Dual light cycle daily.....

airinhere · 06/04/2007, 12:22 AM

Okay, I have been trying something a little different for the last few months and am concerned over the potential effects this might have on some new corals I am preparing to add.

I run two seperate light cycles each day.

Lights are two 250W metal halide SE 20K.
Tank is 90 gal AGA
lights come on at 8am and shut off at noon.
Lights come back on at 5pm and shut off at 1130pm.
10 and a half hours total

I dont like spending the extra money to keep the lights running while I am not there. Or having the lights go off well before I go to bed.

I know this is unusual, but so far (after 4 months) I have seen good response from all my corals and the colors I am getting are very nice. This is for zoanthids, florida ricordea, yumas, a handful of milliepora frags that were pink with yellow tips. (the millie is now orange with green tips)

I fully understand most of these guys are not the most light demanding corals out there.

I am getting ready to aquire some platygra (maze brain) and several types of acans.

My question is will this altered light cycle work for keeping the acans and brain?

And then I am looking to begin shifting over to more SPS. Are there any types that might do well with a light cycle like this?

Electricity is crazy expensive here in CA and I have two tanks set up like this (1000W) and am looking to add a third tank. (1500W)

Any ideas? suggestions? condemnations? Any help is welcome.

karlmarx · 06/04/2007, 01:15 AM

It should be noted that mh dont like to getting turned on and off. Most manf say that anything under 10 hours running time will lower the life of the bulb so you may have to change more frequently than usual.

frederickk · 06/08/2007, 06:48 PM

What if you have to adjust them when you introduce new bulbs.

I am currently reducing my lighting time in half because I don't want to burn all my acan and LPS. DOes that have a negative effect on my new bulbs?

06/04/2007, 12:22 AM	#1
airinhere Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cayman Islands Posts: 1,256	Dual light cycle daily..... Okay, I have been trying something a little different for the last few months and am concerned over the potential effects this might have on some new corals I am preparing to add. I run two seperate light cycles each day. Lights are two 250W metal halide SE 20K. Tank is 90 gal AGA lights come on at 8am and shut off at noon. Lights come back on at 5pm and shut off at 1130pm. 10 and a half hours total I dont like spending the extra money to keep the lights running while I am not there. Or having the lights go off well before I go to bed. I know this is unusual, but so far (after 4 months) I have seen good response from all my corals and the colors I am getting are very nice. This is for zoanthids, florida ricordea, yumas, a handful of milliepora frags that were pink with yellow tips. (the millie is now orange with green tips) I fully understand most of these guys are not the most light demanding corals out there. I am getting ready to aquire some platygra (maze brain) and several types of acans. My question is will this altered light cycle work for keeping the acans and brain? And then I am looking to begin shifting over to more SPS. Are there any types that might do well with a light cycle like this? Electricity is crazy expensive here in CA and I have two tanks set up like this (1000W) and am looking to add a third tank. (1500W) Any ideas? suggestions? condemnations? Any help is welcome. __________________ Quit your job. Buy a ticket. Get a tan. Fall in love. Never return. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon roundfront and 75 gallon

06/04/2007, 01:15 AM	#2
karlmarx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 476	It should be noted that mh dont like to getting turned on and off. Most manf say that anything under 10 hours running time will lower the life of the bulb so you may have to change more frequently than usual.

06/08/2007, 06:48 PM	#3
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	What if you have to adjust them when you introduce new bulbs. I am currently reducing my lighting time in half because I don't want to burn all my acan and LPS. DOes that have a negative effect on my new bulbs?