Why do we leave our lights on for 8-10 hours? - Page 2

jbird69 · 04/01/2009, 12:08 PM

I followed that thread in the sps forum and was very taken by it. I cut back my photoperiod for 3 weeks, I was eventually from 9hrs down to 6 1/2. I was one of the few that did not experience any benefit (aside from less evap and less energy consumed) from this change. I was reading about a lot of guys seein an improvement in color and growth in less than 2 weeks. I actually started losing color on a couple corals.

Now, Greenbean points out some interesting facts about saturation and photoinhibition. Good stuff!
I do have a question tho... Sometimes I let natural sun into my tank via a nearby window. When that sunlight spills in, it makes my 400w 15k halide bulb look like its not even on. I mean the difference in intensity is astronomical!
Can we come even remotely close to providing photoinhibition with our limited lighting as compared to natural sunlight?..I mean, once our corals are acclimated to the light we have? Couldnt we continue to slowly increase light until it matched the intensity of the sun (assuming the technology existed) and still get away with some length of photoperiod that wouldnt jeapordize the health of our corals?

Paul B · 04/01/2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

I'm not one to limit a tank to 8-10 and prefer 12-14 myself.

So do I

Aquarist007 · 04/01/2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul B
So do I

that's not fair to state that Pau --you haven't changed your bulbs in over 5 years

Paul B · 04/01/2009, 12:55 PM

Actually I changed them a few weeks ago. Now I am set for another five years

WaterKeeper · 04/01/2009, 05:07 PM

I need the Bean to tell me the PAR value that is needed for lawn gnomes.

Aquarist007 · 04/01/2009, 06:01 PM

evidently you seem on the right track--nice growth

04/01/2009, 12:08 PM	#26
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	I followed that thread in the sps forum and was very taken by it. I cut back my photoperiod for 3 weeks, I was eventually from 9hrs down to 6 1/2. I was one of the few that did not experience any benefit (aside from less evap and less energy consumed) from this change. I was reading about a lot of guys seein an improvement in color and growth in less than 2 weeks. I actually started losing color on a couple corals. Now, Greenbean points out some interesting facts about saturation and photoinhibition. Good stuff! I do have a question tho... Sometimes I let natural sun into my tank via a nearby window. When that sunlight spills in, it makes my 400w 15k halide bulb look like its not even on. I mean the difference in intensity is astronomical! Can we come even remotely close to providing photoinhibition with our limited lighting as compared to natural sunlight?..I mean, once our corals are acclimated to the light we have? Couldnt we continue to slowly increase light until it matched the intensity of the sun (assuming the technology existed) and still get away with some length of photoperiod that wouldnt jeapordize the health of our corals? __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

04/01/2009, 12:55 PM	#29
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Actually I changed them a few weeks ago. Now I am set for another five years __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

04/01/2009, 05:07 PM	#30
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I need the Bean to tell me the PAR value that is needed for lawn gnomes. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/01/2009, 06:01 PM	#31
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	evidently you seem on the right track--nice growth __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock