Difference between Daylight and Actinic?

mxmarks · 02/18/2008, 07:36 PM

Im setting up my light timers - any set rules to the times and durations?

Im running a dual Daylight and a dual Actinic...should they both kick on and off at the same time? Between the two there's a strip of moonlight LED's...

Thanks!

Largo50 · 02/18/2008, 07:50 PM

I turn my actinics on 1/2 hour before the daylights and keep them on 1/2 hour after, sort of sunrise and sunset. My total is 11hrs. I cut it back from12 hrs because of algae growth.

ABATTLEDONKEY · 02/18/2008, 08:56 PM

does 1 hour really make a huge difference with algea growth? i have an algea problem thats more of a nuisiance than a problem. i leave my lights on average of 12 hours a day and only 11 are daylight. could cutting this back cut the algea growth?
-Paul

seapug · 02/18/2008, 09:10 PM

1 hour probably won't make much of a difference. A couple days with no lights can help reduce some kinds of algae and improve water clarity, but it will come back if you don't address the nutrient issues that are the REAL reason it's growing.

As far as the original question goes, most people with the option will run the actinics before the daylight in morning and after the daylight in the evening. It's not really "required" but it does help put the tank on an artifical sunrise/sunset cycle. Plus, it's kinda nice to look at the tank with actinics only sometimes.

02/18/2008, 07:36 PM	#1
mxmarks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Liverpool, NY Posts: 122	Difference between Daylight and Actinic? Im setting up my light timers - any set rules to the times and durations? Im running a dual Daylight and a dual Actinic...should they both kick on and off at the same time? Between the two there's a strip of moonlight LED's... Thanks!

02/18/2008, 07:50 PM	#2
Largo50 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Largo duh Posts: 147	I turn my actinics on 1/2 hour before the daylights and keep them on 1/2 hour after, sort of sunrise and sunset. My total is 11hrs. I cut it back from12 hrs because of algae growth. __________________ I never met a wrasse I didn't like. Current Tank Info: 180 a work in progress, 24 nano

02/18/2008, 09:10 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	1 hour probably won't make much of a difference. A couple days with no lights can help reduce some kinds of algae and improve water clarity, but it will come back if you don't address the nutrient issues that are the REAL reason it's growing. As far as the original question goes, most people with the option will run the actinics before the daylight in morning and after the daylight in the evening. It's not really "required" but it does help put the tank on an artifical sunrise/sunset cycle. Plus, it's kinda nice to look at the tank with actinics only sometimes. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

02/18/2008, 08:56 PM	#3
ABATTLEDONKEY Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: san jose CA Posts: 69	does 1 hour really make a huge difference with algea growth? i have an algea problem thats more of a nuisiance than a problem. i leave my lights on average of 12 hours a day and only 11 are daylight. could cutting this back cut the algea growth? -Paul