changing my bulbs

raulruiz912 · 02/02/2010, 01:47 AM

i recently changed my t5 54w lamps, there is a total of 7 lamps and i have heard different people say that i need to cut back on the the time the lights are on. any words of wisdom would be very helpful. and i think they should have been replaced a few at a time but that's not the option now. i did however cut back to 5hours of lights being on. please help anything would help
thanks ahead of time

revclyburn · 02/02/2010, 07:49 AM

I have mines on a timer, you can set 3 or 4 different times for the lights to come on. I don't think 5 hours is really a lot, may not be enough. I would try 6 to 8 and simulate daytime and early evening. Of course you want the lights to be on when your home so you can see the tank. So set them to come on for a couple of hours while you're home.

Here's a article on T5's, Im looking for some more. I'll post them for you ok.

http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=t5aquariumlights

Rev

revclyburn · 02/02/2010, 07:57 AM

Saltwater Reef Aquarium Light

Saltwater reef tanks with corals, clams and other light needing organisms will need the high output, very high output flourescent or metal halide lamps. Certain corals, anemones and clams require very intense lighting levels that can only be provided with VHO and metal halide light sources. A general rule of thumb for reef tanks is between 4 and 10 watts per aquarium gallon. Many reefers have lighting systems incorporating metal halides and VHO flourescent tubes. Research the species you want to keep because light requirements can vary. Because of the amount of heat these light units can produce, you may need to get an aquarium chiller to keep your tank water temperature in an acceptable range. The expense of lighting a reef tank may be just as high or higher than the cost of the live rock.

Photo Period - How long do you leave the lights on?

How long should the fish tank lights stay on for? We get this question frequently. A good range to aim for would be anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. Remember that fish like and need to rest just like other animals. Fish only setups could range from 6 to 12 hours, reef tank setups and freshwater planted aquariums could range from 10 to 12 hour photo periods. Leaving the lights on for longer time periods could contribute to nuisance algae growth (just one of the factors with algae growth), higher tank temperatures and quicker tank water evaporation. Be consistent and if you can afford it, invest in a light timer.

Aquarium Light Timer

You may also want to get an aquarium light timer. A light timer can help make running an aquarium that much more enjoyable because it's one less thing you have to mess with. Most higher end fish tank hoods and fixtures have multiple power cords that are tied into the multiple light sockets within the hood. This allows you to setup your timer to turn on the various lights at different times.

For instance, a popular hood nowadays is the compact flourescent hood incorporating an actinic bulb, a full spectrum bulb and a moon light. You could set up the timer to turn on the actinic bulb to go on first and stay on for 12 hours, then have the full spectrum bulb come on an hour or so later and stay on for 10 hours. This could simulate dawn and dusk by having the actinic bulbs come on an hour early and stay on an hour later. Finally, you could have the moon lights turn on when the actinics turn off. Who knows, you may even start to see breeding behavior in certain species that may be more in tune with the light of the moon in this type of setup. Another side benefit of using a moon light is the super cool effect it creates in the aquarium when all the other lights in the room are off.

Rev

02/02/2010, 01:47 AM	#1
raulruiz912 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: tucson Posts: 227	changing my bulbs i recently changed my t5 54w lamps, there is a total of 7 lamps and i have heard different people say that i need to cut back on the the time the lights are on. any words of wisdom would be very helpful. and i think they should have been replaced a few at a time but that's not the option now. i did however cut back to 5hours of lights being on. please help anything would help thanks ahead of time __________________ 'Yes, madam, I am drunk. But in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly. ... But in the morning "Winston Churchill"

02/02/2010, 07:49 AM	#2
revclyburn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Neptune, N.J. Posts: 1,853	I have mines on a timer, you can set 3 or 4 different times for the lights to come on. I don't think 5 hours is really a lot, may not be enough. I would try 6 to 8 and simulate daytime and early evening. Of course you want the lights to be on when your home so you can see the tank. So set them to come on for a couple of hours while you're home. Here's a article on T5's, Im looking for some more. I'll post them for you ok. http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=t5aquariumlights Rev __________________ " In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God" Robert F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: One day I'll get it right. 55 Gallon, reef, softies, gorgorians, ricordia, EVENTUALLY!

02/02/2010, 07:57 AM	#3
revclyburn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Neptune, N.J. Posts: 1,853	Saltwater Reef Aquarium Light Saltwater reef tanks with corals, clams and other light needing organisms will need the high output, very high output flourescent or metal halide lamps. Certain corals, anemones and clams require very intense lighting levels that can only be provided with VHO and metal halide light sources. A general rule of thumb for reef tanks is between 4 and 10 watts per aquarium gallon. Many reefers have lighting systems incorporating metal halides and VHO flourescent tubes. Research the species you want to keep because light requirements can vary. Because of the amount of heat these light units can produce, you may need to get an aquarium chiller to keep your tank water temperature in an acceptable range. The expense of lighting a reef tank may be just as high or higher than the cost of the live rock. Photo Period - How long do you leave the lights on? How long should the fish tank lights stay on for? We get this question frequently. A good range to aim for would be anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. Remember that fish like and need to rest just like other animals. Fish only setups could range from 6 to 12 hours, reef tank setups and freshwater planted aquariums could range from 10 to 12 hour photo periods. Leaving the lights on for longer time periods could contribute to nuisance algae growth (just one of the factors with algae growth), higher tank temperatures and quicker tank water evaporation. Be consistent and if you can afford it, invest in a light timer. Aquarium Light Timer You may also want to get an aquarium light timer. A light timer can help make running an aquarium that much more enjoyable because it's one less thing you have to mess with. Most higher end fish tank hoods and fixtures have multiple power cords that are tied into the multiple light sockets within the hood. This allows you to setup your timer to turn on the various lights at different times. For instance, a popular hood nowadays is the compact flourescent hood incorporating an actinic bulb, a full spectrum bulb and a moon light. You could set up the timer to turn on the actinic bulb to go on first and stay on for 12 hours, then have the full spectrum bulb come on an hour or so later and stay on for 10 hours. This could simulate dawn and dusk by having the actinic bulbs come on an hour early and stay on an hour later. Finally, you could have the moon lights turn on when the actinics turn off. Who knows, you may even start to see breeding behavior in certain species that may be more in tune with the light of the moon in this type of setup. Another side benefit of using a moon light is the super cool effect it creates in the aquarium when all the other lights in the room are off. Rev __________________ " In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God" Robert F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: One day I'll get it right. 55 Gallon, reef, softies, gorgorians, ricordia, EVENTUALLY!