Lighting for cycling tank

4G1v3N · 01/07/2007, 02:04 AM

Guy at the LFS told me to only run my lights for 3 hours a day while cycling. I have 2 30W t8 daylights and one actinic bulb in the same hood. should i leave the lights on all the time? only run actinic lights all the time? any suggestions pointers?

reefshadow · 01/07/2007, 02:09 AM

I wouldn't leave the lights on all the time, some organisms will require dark phases in order to feed and reproduce. I would probably run lights 6-8 hours to give coralline a good start, but you will probably get other algael blooms as well, which can be dealt with later if they turn out to be a nuisance.

4G1v3N · 01/07/2007, 02:12 AM

What about when i turn the day lights off should i run the actinic? or total darkness?

reefshadow · 01/07/2007, 02:29 AM

I would just do total darkness, no real reason to run the actinic, except it looks cool, lol. Save your lamp life too.

01/07/2007, 02:04 AM	#1
4G1v3N Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 142	Lighting for cycling tank Guy at the LFS told me to only run my lights for 3 hours a day while cycling. I have 2 30W t8 daylights and one actinic bulb in the same hood. should i leave the lights on all the time? only run actinic lights all the time? any suggestions pointers?

01/07/2007, 02:09 AM	#2
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	I wouldn't leave the lights on all the time, some organisms will require dark phases in order to feed and reproduce. I would probably run lights 6-8 hours to give coralline a good start, but you will probably get other algael blooms as well, which can be dealt with later if they turn out to be a nuisance. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

01/07/2007, 02:29 AM	#4
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	I would just do total darkness, no real reason to run the actinic, except it looks cool, lol. Save your lamp life too. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

01/07/2007, 02:12 AM	#3
4G1v3N Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 142	What about when i turn the day lights off should i run the actinic? or total darkness?