How long should my lights be on?

Reef Doctor · 10/27/2011, 02:06 PM

What is a good time frame for the lights to be on in the display tank? I see people with lights on 8hrs, 12 hrs, etc. Some only run full power 4hrs a day. Is there a concensus on optimal?

kripas · 10/27/2011, 02:18 PM

Depends what you have? And what kind of light equipment you have? Sps, anemone, fish only,soft corals, clams.etc etc. Im running 3x250 watts hallide with 4x t5 combo. 7 hours for hallide and 8 hours on t5,I have mix sps and soft corals and clams.

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briankmarsh1980 · 10/27/2011, 02:25 PM

It does depend on your lights and what you have....
I run my blues for 12hrs and my halides come on diring the middle for 6 hrs

I see you are from AZ we have a great local forum (frag)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=228

Dustin1300 · 10/27/2011, 02:25 PM

With a mixed reef tank I've liked running my 2X250 Watt MHs for 8 hours and 2X54 Watt T5s on a 12 hour schedule. I'd rather be able to see the tank for an extended duration and always had good results.

Reef Doctor · 10/27/2011, 02:33 PM

I have a 75 gallon reef 3 months old, 150lbs live rock. Currently just inverts (hitchiker crabs, hermits, cucumbers, etc.) I have an ATI Dimmable Sunpower 6x54W. My lights are 4 ATI Blue +, 1 Purple Plus, 1 GE 6500K. I plan to start adding fish soon, and will eventually begin adding corals, probably LPS mostly. So are there any recommendations for my particular situation? I think currently it is running 1 hr dawn/1hr dusk with a purple plus and a blue plus, then 10 additional hours with everything on. Is this too much?

L_Spec · 10/27/2011, 03:41 PM

I have a 30 gallon long tank with four t5ho bulbs. I have them all on for eight hours, but my actinics will be one an hour before and after this photoperiod.

I've seen very good results with this. I only have soft corals for now.

tur-reef-ik · 10/27/2011, 06:19 PM

I have a similar setup my lights are 6/54w ati dimmable sunpower,1b+and Fiji purple on at 4:00 then 5:00 3 b+ and 1 ab special at 100%on till 12:00 and the b+and FijiP off at 1:00 I have two millis two birdnest and two other acros and I did acclimate them by raising the lights and lowering it over a couple of weeks,tanks been running for about 4 mos I run gfo and carbon in two reactors and I dose amino acids, and 10% weekly water changes with tropic Marin and I have a Bm180cs haven't really had to dose too much alk,cal,and mag and I have been checking parameters weekly ,so far so good only have two fish right now a yellow tang and a lawn mower blenny

tur-reef-ik · 10/27/2011, 06:20 PM

Oh yea forgot to post my tank is a 75 g rimless edge.

tur-reef-ik · 10/27/2011, 06:51 PM

10/27/2011, 02:06 PM	#1
Reef Doctor Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 141	How long should my lights be on? What is a good time frame for the lights to be on in the display tank? I see people with lights on 8hrs, 12 hrs, etc. Some only run full power 4hrs a day. Is there a concensus on optimal?

10/27/2011, 02:25 PM	#3
briankmarsh1980 I'm a member of **!!!!!! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maricopa, Arizona Posts: 2,127	It does depend on your lights and what you have.... I run my blues for 12hrs and my halides come on diring the middle for 6 hrs I see you are from AZ we have a great local forum (frag) http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=228 __________________ My skim don't stink _______________________________________________________________ 210 gallons with stuff!!!!!!!

10/27/2011, 02:25 PM	#4
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	With a mixed reef tank I've liked running my 2X250 Watt MHs for 8 hours and 2X54 Watt T5s on a 12 hour schedule. I'd rather be able to see the tank for an extended duration and always had good results. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

10/27/2011, 02:33 PM	#5
Reef Doctor Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 141	I have a 75 gallon reef 3 months old, 150lbs live rock. Currently just inverts (hitchiker crabs, hermits, cucumbers, etc.) I have an ATI Dimmable Sunpower 6x54W. My lights are 4 ATI Blue +, 1 Purple Plus, 1 GE 6500K. I plan to start adding fish soon, and will eventually begin adding corals, probably LPS mostly. So are there any recommendations for my particular situation? I think currently it is running 1 hr dawn/1hr dusk with a purple plus and a blue plus, then 10 additional hours with everything on. Is this too much? Last edited by Reef Doctor; 10/27/2011 at 02:42 PM.

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10/27/2011, 02:18 PM	#2
kripas Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hayward, Ca Posts: 238	Depends what you have? And what kind of light equipment you have? Sps, anemone, fish only,soft corals, clams.etc etc. Im running 3x250 watts hallide with 4x t5 combo. 7 hours for hallide and 8 hours on t5,I have mix sps and soft corals and clams. Sent from my iPhone using My point finger

10/27/2011, 03:41 PM	#6
L_Spec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Regina Posts: 133	I have a 30 gallon long tank with four t5ho bulbs. I have them all on for eight hours, but my actinics will be one an hour before and after this photoperiod. I've seen very good results with this. I only have soft corals for now.

10/27/2011, 06:19 PM	#7
tur-reef-ik Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando,Fl Posts: 28	I have a similar setup my lights are 6/54w ati dimmable sunpower,1b+and Fiji purple on at 4:00 then 5:00 3 b+ and 1 ab special at 100%on till 12:00 and the b+and FijiP off at 1:00 I have two millis two birdnest and two other acros and I did acclimate them by raising the lights and lowering it over a couple of weeks,tanks been running for about 4 mos I run gfo and carbon in two reactors and I dose amino acids, and 10% weekly water changes with tropic Marin and I have a Bm180cs haven't really had to dose too much alk,cal,and mag and I have been checking parameters weekly ,so far so good only have two fish right now a yellow tang and a lawn mower blenny

10/27/2011, 06:20 PM	#8
tur-reef-ik Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando,Fl Posts: 28	Oh yea forgot to post my tank is a 75 g rimless edge.

10/27/2011, 06:51 PM	#9
tur-reef-ik Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando,Fl Posts: 28