changing mh light period to night

john90009 · 05/23/2011, 07:19 PM

with the summer approaching and the warmer temps coming also, who switches there light cycle on there halides to run at night so your house temp stays lower and the ac doesnt have trouble? I would like to know how you transition your corals into doing this?

scram42 · 05/23/2011, 10:55 PM

Eliminate your problem.... LED's

aquaman67 · 05/24/2011, 07:21 AM

I think you could just do it. I don't think corals have sleep cycles like people do.

Another reason to do it is electric companies are going to peak and off-peak rates. It will be cheaper to run the lights at night.

I agree with the LED switch. I did it. The prices will come down and in the long run - bulbs and electricity, will be a savings.

john90009 · 05/24/2011, 08:13 AM

college student- dont have thousands of dollars to spend on a 48 inch fixture and dont have the time to make them my self.

scram42 · 05/24/2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

I think you could just do it. I don't think corals have sleep cycles like people do.

Another reason to do it is electric companies are going to peak and off-peak rates. It will be cheaper to run the lights at night.

I agree. It might take them a few days to get used it but I'm sure they'll be fine.

PokerReefer · 05/25/2011, 05:22 PM

I have always ran my lights on a cycle off peak hours. In fact two cycles. I have ran my halides from 6am-10am and then again in the evening from 6pm-10pm for the last several years. It is my hours of viewing the tank. And I have achieved two photoperiods in a day. I am currently starting a new tank with a mh/t-5 combo. And plan to run t-5's 5-11 am and halides 6-10am. And the same hours in the evening. On the weekends I run them 10-8. I am home on the weekends and want to see my tank during the day.

ANGRY JOHN · 05/25/2011, 05:39 PM

i have done something like this for a long time. My day begins at 11 am so the lights are still going for my viewing pleasure when i get home. I also think that setting a cycle like this will be no big deal, but i dont see a reason to switch back after you are on a night cycle.

john90009 · 05/25/2011, 07:21 PM

just dont know how i should go about changing it just all the sudden dont run my lights the whole day then throw them on at the night - or run my lights during the day and then start it also at night

scram42 · 05/26/2011, 07:59 AM

I would think a full day of lighting followed by a full night of lighting might be too much of a shock. I think leaving the lights off for a day and then have them come on at night would be less shocking to your corals and fish. Of course doing it gradually over time would probably be best but that would be a pain in the butt.
Good luck and keep us posted as to how this works for you.

john90009 · 06/02/2011, 05:45 PM

today i started doing the lighting switch i had the lights on for about 30 minutes today after my wrasse family came out from the sand then i fed them all- i then turned the lights off and covered the front glass with a blanket so they get the hint. the corals got the idea and PE was normal for a night time but the fish are slow at getting used to it.

muffe · 06/02/2011, 05:48 PM

When I ran my lights at night I just blocked off all the windows so no sunlight can get in to the room with the tank. No ill effects were observed running lights at night.

john90009 · 06/02/2011, 05:50 PM

thanks for the feed back- unfortunately the tanks int he living room- i would have opted for it being in the basement- infront of the tank is kinda a bay window and im not sure how my parents would feel about covering the whole window so no light comes in every day.

05/23/2011, 07:19 PM	#1
john90009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brick Posts: 985	changing mh light period to night with the summer approaching and the warmer temps coming also, who switches there light cycle on there halides to run at night so your house temp stays lower and the ac doesnt have trouble? I would like to know how you transition your corals into doing this?

05/23/2011, 10:55 PM	#2
scram42 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hamilton Posts: 93	Eliminate your problem.... LED's __________________ 30 Gal Reef. Skimmerless. HOB 'fuge. Orphek PR 156, MP10, SPS, LPS, RBTA, 2 Percs 2 Azure Damsels. and various inverts. Current Tank Info: Staring over

05/25/2011, 05:39 PM	#7
ANGRY JOHN Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New London CT Posts: 347	i have done something like this for a long time. My day begins at 11 am so the lights are still going for my viewing pleasure when i get home. I also think that setting a cycle like this will be no big deal, but i dont see a reason to switch back after you are on a night cycle. __________________ THE MORE YOU READ THE MORE YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU DONT KNOW. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon acrylic, 2x250 14k and 2 54 atinic avast skimmer and gen-x mak-4 return

05/26/2011, 07:59 AM	#9
scram42 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hamilton Posts: 93	I would think a full day of lighting followed by a full night of lighting might be too much of a shock. I think leaving the lights off for a day and then have them come on at night would be less shocking to your corals and fish. Of course doing it gradually over time would probably be best but that would be a pain in the butt. Good luck and keep us posted as to how this works for you. __________________ 30 Gal Reef. Skimmerless. HOB 'fuge. Orphek PR 156, MP10, SPS, LPS, RBTA, 2 Percs 2 Azure Damsels. and various inverts. Current Tank Info: Staring over

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05/24/2011, 07:21 AM	#3
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629	I think you could just do it. I don't think corals have sleep cycles like people do. Another reason to do it is electric companies are going to peak and off-peak rates. It will be cheaper to run the lights at night. I agree with the LED switch. I did it. The prices will come down and in the long run - bulbs and electricity, will be a savings.

05/24/2011, 08:13 AM	#4
john90009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brick Posts: 985	college student- dont have thousands of dollars to spend on a 48 inch fixture and dont have the time to make them my self.

05/25/2011, 05:22 PM	#6
PokerReefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Modesto,CA. Posts: 309	I have always ran my lights on a cycle off peak hours. In fact two cycles. I have ran my halides from 6am-10am and then again in the evening from 6pm-10pm for the last several years. It is my hours of viewing the tank. And I have achieved two photoperiods in a day. I am currently starting a new tank with a mh/t-5 combo. And plan to run t-5's 5-11 am and halides 6-10am. And the same hours in the evening. On the weekends I run them 10-8. I am home on the weekends and want to see my tank during the day.

05/25/2011, 07:21 PM	#8
john90009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brick Posts: 985	just dont know how i should go about changing it just all the sudden dont run my lights the whole day then throw them on at the night - or run my lights during the day and then start it also at night

06/02/2011, 05:45 PM	#10
john90009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brick Posts: 985	today i started doing the lighting switch i had the lights on for about 30 minutes today after my wrasse family came out from the sand then i fed them all- i then turned the lights off and covered the front glass with a blanket so they get the hint. the corals got the idea and PE was normal for a night time but the fish are slow at getting used to it.

06/02/2011, 05:48 PM	#11
muffe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 236	When I ran my lights at night I just blocked off all the windows so no sunlight can get in to the room with the tank. No ill effects were observed running lights at night.

06/02/2011, 05:50 PM	#12
john90009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brick Posts: 985	thanks for the feed back- unfortunately the tanks int he living room- i would have opted for it being in the basement- infront of the tank is kinda a bay window and im not sure how my parents would feel about covering the whole window so no light comes in every day.