Quick Lighting Question

hd12121 · 03/07/2010, 10:02 AM

I've looked through the newbies section and see a large amount of info regarding lighting. I don't want a degree in lighting, I just want advice on how long to keep my lights on for a reef tank with an anemone in it? It is a Red Sea Max 130D with some elaborate light bulbs in the hood. Thanks

rkb · 03/07/2010, 10:10 AM

The short answer is 8 to 10 hours. The slightly longer answer starts with the question of -does you lights have independent switches for each bank of lights? For instance, in some 4, 6 or greater T5 fixtures you have the ability to turn on half of them at a time. This way you can you a staggered photo period. I run a mix of T5 and MH and this is my photo period -

7am blue LEDs on
9am white LEDS on
11am T5s on.
Noon MHs on, all LEDs off.
6pm MHs off, all LEDs on.
7pm T5s off.
9pm white LEDs off.
Midnight blue LEDs off.

HTH

hd12121 · 03/07/2010, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the reply. My lights are either on bright or have blue LEDs. So I have it set to go on at noon - off at 11:00pm. When "off" the LEDs are on. The tank is in an extremely bright room with many windows and sliding glass doors so it is reasonably light from 7a until the lights go on at noon, although no direct sunlight. I guess I'll run like this and see what happens. Thanks again!

03/07/2010, 10:02 AM	#1
hd12121 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 7	Quick Lighting Question I've looked through the newbies section and see a large amount of info regarding lighting. I don't want a degree in lighting, I just want advice on how long to keep my lights on for a reef tank with an anemone in it? It is a Red Sea Max 130D with some elaborate light bulbs in the hood. Thanks

03/07/2010, 10:10 AM	#2
rkb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Western Hemisphere Posts: 578	The short answer is 8 to 10 hours. The slightly longer answer starts with the question of -does you lights have independent switches for each bank of lights? For instance, in some 4, 6 or greater T5 fixtures you have the ability to turn on half of them at a time. This way you can you a staggered photo period. I run a mix of T5 and MH and this is my photo period - 7am blue LEDs on 9am white LEDS on 11am T5s on. Noon MHs on, all LEDs off. 6pm MHs off, all LEDs on. 7pm T5s off. 9pm white LEDs off. Midnight blue LEDs off. HTH __________________ Current tank: Eleventy billion gallon tank with a DSB of rainbow gravel and one tiny blue tang...

03/07/2010, 11:05 AM	#3
hd12121 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 7	Thanks for the reply. My lights are either on bright or have blue LEDs. So I have it set to go on at noon - off at 11:00pm. When "off" the LEDs are on. The tank is in an extremely bright room with many windows and sliding glass doors so it is reasonably light from 7a until the lights go on at noon, although no direct sunlight. I guess I'll run like this and see what happens. Thanks again!