Lightning Hours?

29mixedreef · 01/06/2012, 02:30 PM

Hi thanks for taking your time to answer my question i really appreciate.

I currently am running a 150 watt 14k coralife metal halide and 1 t5 blue plus ati as a supplement. I want to know which cycle of light would be best for optimal growth and color. Thanks. Also would it be a good idea to upgrade to a 250 watt 15k metal halide with 4 t5's as a supplement on my 29 gallon tank? I have sps,lps,soft corals. Thank You once again.

alton · 01/06/2012, 02:35 PM

I grow and frag corals in a 29 with only 4-24w T5HO's. If you already have T5's and 150MH you have plenty of light. Also if heat is not an issue during the winter run your lights 12 hours a day.

BeanAnimal · 01/06/2012, 02:41 PM

There is simply no need to run 250W of anything on a 29 gallon tank. 10-12 hours of light is average, some folks run less and some more. To a degree, "growth" is overated. If you maintain healthy slow growing corals, your maintenance tasks will be much easier and less time consuming. Too much growth in a 29 gallon tank will become a chore to control over time with regard to competition, supplimintation and biological capacity.

RtReef · 01/06/2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alton

I grow and frag corals in a 29 with only 4-24w T5HO's. If you already have T5's and 150MH you have plenty of light. Also if heat is not an issue during the winter run your lights 12 hours a day.

I agree. Halide plus T5 will be extreme overkill on a 29, you may even bleach/kill some of your corals.

BigAl2007 · 01/06/2012, 02:52 PM

I'd say if your tank is growing well, coral have good color and everything is stable I wouldn't change a thing. If it's not broke . . . .

Just keep an eye on temps... 29g isn't a lot of water to have 150w MH over it.

29mixedreef · 01/06/2012, 03:07 PM

thanks everybody i want to know if thats enough light to have sps all over my tank. I want to have some of the rare sps that require plenty of light. Also currently i turn on my lights at 3 and turn off at 11 , how should i change this so i rum at least 10 hours. also do i turn on my halide and t5 at the same t5? or do i turn on t5 then halide , how long on each light? Thanks oncee again.

TheFishTeen · 01/06/2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 29mixedreef

thanks everybody i want to know if thats enough light to have sps all over my tank. I want to have some of the rare sps that require plenty of light. Also currently i turn on my lights at 3 and turn off at 11 , how should i change this so i rum at least 10 hours. also do i turn on my halide and t5 at the same t5? or do i turn on t5 then halide , how long on each light? Thanks oncee again.

Get some timers...

Reeferwill561 · 01/06/2012, 03:51 PM

I don't see the point of running your halides 12 hours a day. I run my halides 6 hours a day and my growth is great. I do use a radium bulb though.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

29mixedreef · 01/06/2012, 03:52 PM

i do have timers just want to know how to set them how much hours of each light

01/06/2012, 02:30 PM	#1
29mixedreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 232	Lightning Hours? Hi thanks for taking your time to answer my question i really appreciate. I currently am running a 150 watt 14k coralife metal halide and 1 t5 blue plus ati as a supplement. I want to know which cycle of light would be best for optimal growth and color. Thanks. Also would it be a good idea to upgrade to a 250 watt 15k metal halide with 4 t5's as a supplement on my 29 gallon tank? I have sps,lps,soft corals. Thank You once again.

01/06/2012, 03:51 PM	#8
Reeferwill561 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Gainesville Posts: 120	I don't see the point of running your halides 12 hours a day. I run my halides 6 hours a day and my growth is great. I do use a radium bulb though. Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk __________________ I enjoy bashing Led lights. 54 gallon corner slice of the ocean. Reef octopus NWB 150 skimmer. 250W 20K Radium MH. Current Tank Info: 54 gallon corner tank, icecap 250 watt ballast, 250 watt 20K Radium Bulb, Reef Octupus NWB 150 skimmer.

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01/06/2012, 02:35 PM	#2
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	I grow and frag corals in a 29 with only 4-24w T5HO's. If you already have T5's and 150MH you have plenty of light. Also if heat is not an issue during the winter run your lights 12 hours a day.

01/06/2012, 02:41 PM	#3
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	There is simply no need to run 250W of anything on a 29 gallon tank. 10-12 hours of light is average, some folks run less and some more. To a degree, "growth" is overated. If you maintain healthy slow growing corals, your maintenance tasks will be much easier and less time consuming. Too much growth in a 29 gallon tank will become a chore to control over time with regard to competition, supplimintation and biological capacity.

01/06/2012, 02:52 PM	#5
BigAl2007 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waynesville, NC USA Posts: 1,737	I'd say if your tank is growing well, coral have good color and everything is stable I wouldn't change a thing. If it's not broke . . . . Just keep an eye on temps... 29g isn't a lot of water to have 150w MH over it.

01/06/2012, 03:07 PM	#6
29mixedreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 232	thanks everybody i want to know if thats enough light to have sps all over my tank. I want to have some of the rare sps that require plenty of light. Also currently i turn on my lights at 3 and turn off at 11 , how should i change this so i rum at least 10 hours. also do i turn on my halide and t5 at the same t5? or do i turn on t5 then halide , how long on each light? Thanks oncee again.

01/06/2012, 03:52 PM	#9
29mixedreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 232	i do have timers just want to know how to set them how much hours of each light