Lighting vs Time

jahorgos · 02/10/2008, 07:41 AM

I have a 125 gallon tank (6ft long, 25 inches high) with 2 6ft actnics and 3 250watt 10K metal halides.

Currently I have the actnics on for 12 hours and the metal halides on for 8 hours. Basically 2 hours worth of actnics, then 8 hours worth of actnics and MHs and then 2 hours of actnics again. Giving a total of 12 hours of light for the day.

Are my lights on for to long or to short? Any other recommendations?

snulma1 · 02/10/2008, 08:54 AM

Thats how I run mine, Its sort of like a sunrise and a sunset. As long as your fish and coral are not having and adverse reaction to that, keep it like that. The only thing you could do is try and mimic the light cycle from outside. lower the actinic and MH times as the days get shorter, and lengthen them as they get longer.

dileggi · 02/10/2008, 10:08 AM

I run PC lights, but I basically do the same thing. My Actinic's run for two hours longer than my daylights to mimic sunrise and sunset. I run for a total of 12 hours.

cloak · 02/10/2008, 02:46 PM

I run my VHO's the same way.

realest · 02/10/2008, 04:03 PM

I run my dual pc for 8 hrs per day and mh at 8 hrs. So 1 hour on pc then 8 hrs on mh then finishing it with 1 hr of pc.

And everything seems fine!

atvdave · 02/10/2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jahorgos
I have a 125 gallon tank (6ft long, 25 inches high) with 2 6ft actnics and 3 250watt 10K metal halides.

Currently I have the actnics on for 12 hours and the metal halides on for 8 hours. Basically 2 hours worth of actnics, then 8 hours worth of actnics and MHs and then 2 hours of actnics again. Giving a total of 12 hours of light for the day.

Are my lights on for to long or to short? Any other recommendations?

That seams like a good time/light ratio but it's hard to tell.

We need to know what type's of corals you are keeping.

The Saltman · 02/10/2008, 05:41 PM

This is very debatable. I think your run time is fine, but I think you should judge this on how you think your corals are doing. If your getting good growth and color, I wouldn't worry about adjusting lighting times.

jahorgos · 02/11/2008, 07:50 AM

Good to know that I'm not too far off. I just started out with my first corals this weekend which are a star polyp and some mushrooms. I guess I will see how things go over the next few weeks.

02/10/2008, 07:41 AM	#1
jahorgos Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 134	Lighting vs Time I have a 125 gallon tank (6ft long, 25 inches high) with 2 6ft actnics and 3 250watt 10K metal halides. Currently I have the actnics on for 12 hours and the metal halides on for 8 hours. Basically 2 hours worth of actnics, then 8 hours worth of actnics and MHs and then 2 hours of actnics again. Giving a total of 12 hours of light for the day. Are my lights on for to long or to short? Any other recommendations?

02/10/2008, 10:08 AM	#3
dileggi Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: S. Philly PA Posts: 1,171	I run PC lights, but I basically do the same thing. My Actinic's run for two hours longer than my daylights to mimic sunrise and sunset. I run for a total of 12 hours. __________________ Eric "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Usual Suspects Current Tank Info: 90g w/30g sump; skimmer; 2x175w MH & 2x super white actinic...3g w/.5g fuge 1x150w MH Viper

02/10/2008, 08:54 AM	#2
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	Thats how I run mine, Its sort of like a sunrise and a sunset. As long as your fish and coral are not having and adverse reaction to that, keep it like that. The only thing you could do is try and mimic the light cycle from outside. lower the actinic and MH times as the days get shorter, and lengthen them as they get longer.

02/10/2008, 02:46 PM	#4
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I run my VHO's the same way.

02/10/2008, 04:03 PM	#5
realest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 258	I run my dual pc for 8 hrs per day and mh at 8 hrs. So 1 hour on pc then 8 hrs on mh then finishing it with 1 hr of pc. And everything seems fine!

02/10/2008, 05:41 PM	#7
The Saltman Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 1,642	This is very debatable. I think your run time is fine, but I think you should judge this on how you think your corals are doing. If your getting good growth and color, I wouldn't worry about adjusting lighting times.

02/11/2008, 07:50 AM	#8
jahorgos Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 134	Good to know that I'm not too far off. I just started out with my first corals this weekend which are a star polyp and some mushrooms. I guess I will see how things go over the next few weeks.