Halide hours

waywaywest · 07/24/2009, 08:44 AM

I live on an island off of the west coast of BC, and most of the year keeping the tank at the proper temp is a matter of setting the tank heater. However, in the summer months the halides heat the tank to around 84, which i suspect doesn't help the algae growth.

My question is, what's the minimum or at least recommended amount of time that I should run the halides?

My tank is a 90-gallon which currently hosts a large mushroom leather coral, a sebae with its two elderly clown fish, a hammer coral and a bubble tip.

Thanks!

Andezzzy · 07/24/2009, 08:54 AM

I keep my halides on for 8 hours. If your tank is getting to warm you can always run a fan across the top, keep in mind this will speed up the evaporation process, but will lower the temp a couple degrees.

thegrun · 07/24/2009, 08:56 AM

7 hours a day is the sweet spot as far as coral growth goes. I have never tried to go below 7 hours, but I would guess 5 hours a day would keep everything alive, just reduce growth. Have you tried adding a fan to blow across the surface of the tank? The evaporation will usually reduce temperatures about two degrees.

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/24/2009, 08:59 AM

The "sweet spot" is going to depend on a TON of variables, and IMHO it's best practice to imitate a natural photoperiod. Most corals will absolutely grow faster with photoperiods beyond 7 hours, and the "average" cutoff point is probably much longer than that - but shorter than 24 hours - for most species. Again though, it depends on the specific coral, intensity of your lights, etc.

I wouldn't go much below 6 - 8 hours, and if you have supplemental lighting, run it for 10 or 12 hours. If you have heat problems, solve them another way (fans, better natural ventilation, etc.)

waywaywest · 07/24/2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andezzzy
If your tank is getting to warm you can always run a fan across the top, keep in mind this will speed up the evaporation process, but will lower the temp a couple degrees.

Thanks, I've been doing that and it's amazing how much it increases the evaporation.

Unfortunately in our climate it's just not worth it to have a chiller!

I will reduce the halides to 7 hours and see if that helps.

Do you think that the hot temperatures could be increasing the green slime algae I've been fighting?

Cheers

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/24/2009, 09:35 AM

Not directly, but it could be influencing other problems that are fueling the algae growth. What are your nutrient levels like? Maintenance and feeding habits? etc.

waywaywest · 07/24/2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht
What are your nutrient levels like? Maintenance and feeding habits? etc.

That's the part that's been the most perplexing. All paramaters are fine by standard definitions, and having so few animals in the tank i rarely feed at all. The only fish i have are the two clowns, one of which is original making it about six years old.

My suspicion was that buying crushed-coral substrate that a LFS had removed from its tanks was full of crap to begin with.

Recently I took out all the substrate and algae-covered LR and replaced it with a 2" sand bed and some LR that I'd taken out and cleaned six months prior.

I know this is dangerous but the animals are doing well so far...

07/24/2009, 08:44 AM	#1
waywaywest Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nanaimo, BC Posts: 197	Halide hours I live on an island off of the west coast of BC, and most of the year keeping the tank at the proper temp is a matter of setting the tank heater. However, in the summer months the halides heat the tank to around 84, which i suspect doesn't help the algae growth. My question is, what's the minimum or at least recommended amount of time that I should run the halides? My tank is a 90-gallon which currently hosts a large mushroom leather coral, a sebae with its two elderly clown fish, a hammer coral and a bubble tip. Thanks! __________________ "You're gonna need a bigger boat." Current Tank Info: 60 gallon

07/24/2009, 08:59 AM	#4
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	The "sweet spot" is going to depend on a TON of variables, and IMHO it's best practice to imitate a natural photoperiod. Most corals will absolutely grow faster with photoperiods beyond 7 hours, and the "average" cutoff point is probably much longer than that - but shorter than 24 hours - for most species. Again though, it depends on the specific coral, intensity of your lights, etc. I wouldn't go much below 6 - 8 hours, and if you have supplemental lighting, run it for 10 or 12 hours. If you have heat problems, solve them another way (fans, better natural ventilation, etc.) __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/24/2009, 09:35 AM	#6
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Not directly, but it could be influencing other problems that are fueling the algae growth. What are your nutrient levels like? Maintenance and feeding habits? etc. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/24/2009, 08:54 AM	#2
Andezzzy Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pa Posts: 6	I keep my halides on for 8 hours. If your tank is getting to warm you can always run a fan across the top, keep in mind this will speed up the evaporation process, but will lower the temp a couple degrees.

07/24/2009, 08:56 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	7 hours a day is the sweet spot as far as coral growth goes. I have never tried to go below 7 hours, but I would guess 5 hours a day would keep everything alive, just reduce growth. Have you tried adding a fan to blow across the surface of the tank? The evaporation will usually reduce temperatures about two degrees.