how long coral can go without light, changing schedule

waynefort · 06/23/2017, 12:01 PM

I have to leave my home for 6 day due to a family gathering in the town, i usually light on my tank manually two time per day, 9 am to 7am and continue to 8pm to 8 am, its 21 hour in total everyday, but before i leave my house, i set my new digital timer for only 11 hour (9 am -8 pm), its is ok to change a light schedule for my coral ? I have mushroom , zoanthid, finger coral, two LPS and 1 SPS coral, and i don't want them to be unhappy with these new light schedule,

tank info : 20 gallon dophin tank, fluval c4 HOB filter, weipro mini skimmer, SOBO mini wavemaker, KW 28 watt LEd lighting , mini cooling fan, Seaskimz Auto topoff

critter: 1 mated pair of ocellaris clownfish, 1 bluetail damsel, 1 bicolor dottyback, 1 lawnmower blenny, 1 tuxedo sea urchin, 1 turbo snail, i coral banded shrimp, 1 ricordae mushroom,1 brown button polyp zoa, 1 torch coral, 1 colt finger coral, 1 neon green finger coral, 1 green fungia coral, 1 green leaf plate mantipora

LobsterOfJustice · 06/23/2017, 12:19 PM

I'm confused about what you say your previous light schedule was... but you should be lighting your tank for 8-12 hours a day.

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mcgyvr · 06/23/2017, 02:19 PM

If they are unhappy its with your current "manual" light schedule..
6-12 hours max is plenty and all thats needed..
21 hours is just a waste of money/electricity unless you run a 24 hour brothel or something out of your house.. Well.. then its a party and a tax right off

Ron Reefman · 06/23/2017, 03:02 PM

I agree with the above, lighting the tank for 21 hours is NOT good for the coral and it does NOT speed up growth.

To your question. People do lights out for 3 days and they survive. I'd wager IF they are healthy, they will survive, but probably be PO'd.

thaitopher · 06/23/2017, 03:09 PM

I have done a four day blackout before. No adverse consequences to the coral. Dont you have automatic lighting anyways?

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06/23/2017, 12:01 PM	#1
waynefort Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: malaysia Posts: 53	how long coral can go without light, changing schedule I have to leave my home for 6 day due to a family gathering in the town, i usually light on my tank manually two time per day, 9 am to 7am and continue to 8pm to 8 am, its 21 hour in total everyday, but before i leave my house, i set my new digital timer for only 11 hour (9 am -8 pm), its is ok to change a light schedule for my coral ? I have mushroom , zoanthid, finger coral, two LPS and 1 SPS coral, and i don't want them to be unhappy with these new light schedule, tank info : 20 gallon dophin tank, fluval c4 HOB filter, weipro mini skimmer, SOBO mini wavemaker, KW 28 watt LEd lighting , mini cooling fan, Seaskimz Auto topoff critter: 1 mated pair of ocellaris clownfish, 1 bluetail damsel, 1 bicolor dottyback, 1 lawnmower blenny, 1 tuxedo sea urchin, 1 turbo snail, i coral banded shrimp, 1 ricordae mushroom,1 brown button polyp zoa, 1 torch coral, 1 colt finger coral, 1 neon green finger coral, 1 green fungia coral, 1 green leaf plate mantipora

06/23/2017, 12:19 PM	#2
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I'm confused about what you say your previous light schedule was... but you should be lighting your tank for 8-12 hours a day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

06/23/2017, 02:19 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	If they are unhappy its with your current "manual" light schedule.. 6-12 hours max is plenty and all thats needed.. 21 hours is just a waste of money/electricity unless you run a 24 hour brothel or something out of your house.. Well.. then its a party and a tax right off __________________ Who me?

06/23/2017, 03:02 PM	#4
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I agree with the above, lighting the tank for 21 hours is NOT good for the coral and it does NOT speed up growth. To your question. People do lights out for 3 days and they survive. I'd wager IF they are healthy, they will survive, but probably be PO'd. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/23/2017, 03:09 PM	#5
thaitopher Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 130	I have done a four day blackout before. No adverse consequences to the coral. Dont you have automatic lighting anyways? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk