How long should your lights be on?

Therbligs · 02/02/2006, 04:00 PM

How long should the lights be on?

Originally I was having the Actinics come on 2 hrs before and after the MH, which are on for 10 hrs. Just changes it to 30 min. before and after MH.

I would like to reduce the lighting duration to cut down on the power usage, potential for unwanted algae, and heat build-up. Summer is not that far away and electric bill is growing.

Therbligs · 02/02/2006, 06:02 PM

Just got my electric adjustemt in the mail. From Aug. 2 to Jan. 30, my electric usage is about $1600, with about half of it due at the end of the month.

If I said I was running my lights for only three hours a day you would be all over me. Looking for a little help.

jimbo045 · 02/02/2006, 06:22 PM

7am-8:30pm

Therbligs · 02/02/2006, 07:32 PM

S ugar
H oney
I ce
T ea!

That's about what I am at now.

Ploppers · 02/03/2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Therbligs
Just got my electric adjustemt in the mail. From Aug. 2 to Jan. 30, my electric usage is about $1600, with about half of it due at the end of the month.

$1600!!!!

ouch. If my power bill went up that much I would be going FOWLR.

uscgbeachbum · 02/03/2006, 01:37 PM

That's about how much my house is. There are 4 people living in the house with one guy thinking he contols the A/C and sets it at 60 all the time. You have to remember, that's for 5 months worth of electricty.

hipertec · 02/04/2006, 01:58 AM

my understanding is that u want the MH for about 7-8 hours. Atinics 1 hour before and after is fine.

Therbligs · 02/06/2006, 11:57 AM

Great.

Thanks for you're help.

Ramble On Rose · 02/06/2006, 12:35 PM

I'm running each of my MH for 5 hours a piece. There are plenty of people running shortened photoperiods. There is a great thread on it in the SPS forum (somewhere..).

Ploppers · 02/08/2006, 09:57 PM

I just got my power bill for february. My first full month of running the halides and vhos. My bill almost doubled.

It's still only $112, but I think I may shorten the photoperiod anyway.

duongtony · 02/09/2006, 06:46 PM

I ran my 2-250 watts MH for only 4 hours a day. All my coarls are happy.. I used to run these lights 8 hours per day and my electricity bill was very high + these lights heated up my Apt ,so I decided to run them for 4 hours per day. NO problem at all.

Therbligs · 02/11/2006, 11:43 AM

Reduced the photo period to 8hrs MH with Actinics 1hr before and after last week. I'll see how my corals react in the long run.

Actually looks like my Green Bubble Coral is looking better and has more color since I reduced the photo period.

Also shifted the time of the day, so that the lights will come on after the heat of the day (5pm Actinic, 6pm MH's).

Thanks again for your help. Will post update in a few weeks.

Fraggle Rock2 · 02/11/2006, 07:22 PM

I would also suggest making sure that the numbers are actually correct.

At one time my electricity bills were way out of whack, my winter was higher than my summer and I had AC units in the summer and radiators for heat. It made absolutely no sense.

It turned out they were using estimated electrical use or something. It was really messed up and it was one of the first times I felt totally scammed. Honestly, I don't know what they were doing.

I managed to straighten it out somewhat, but since I was about to leave the country I wasn't able to get all my money back. Stupid me, I didn't notice it until after 1 year of over paying.

It's probably not the same in your situation, but still something to think about.

02/02/2006, 04:00 PM	#1
Therbligs Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 206	How long should your lights be on? How long should the lights be on? Originally I was having the Actinics come on 2 hrs before and after the MH, which are on for 10 hrs. Just changes it to 30 min. before and after MH. I would like to reduce the lighting duration to cut down on the power usage, potential for unwanted algae, and heat build-up. Summer is not that far away and electric bill is growing. __________________ The day you stop learning is the day you start becoming obsolete! Current Tank Info: 125gal AGA Reef, 72" Outer Orbit(3x150HQI 10k, 4x96 PC Actinics)

02/02/2006, 06:02 PM	#2
Therbligs Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 206	Just got my electric adjustemt in the mail. From Aug. 2 to Jan. 30, my electric usage is about $1600, with about half of it due at the end of the month. If I said I was running my lights for only three hours a day you would be all over me. Looking for a little help. __________________ The day you stop learning is the day you start becoming obsolete! Current Tank Info: 125gal AGA Reef, 72" Outer Orbit(3x150HQI 10k, 4x96 PC Actinics)

02/02/2006, 07:32 PM	#4
Therbligs Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 206	S ugar H oney I ce T ea! That's about what I am at now. __________________ The day you stop learning is the day you start becoming obsolete! Current Tank Info: 125gal AGA Reef, 72" Outer Orbit(3x150HQI 10k, 4x96 PC Actinics)

02/03/2006, 01:37 PM	#6
uscgbeachbum Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 823	That's about how much my house is. There are 4 people living in the house with one guy thinking he contols the A/C and sets it at 60 all the time. You have to remember, that's for 5 months worth of electricty. __________________ If someone wrote a book about your life would anyone want to read it? Current Tank Info: 42x30x19 peninsula, custom 8020 stand and lightbar, custom BAO sump, RLSS R6i skimmer, Waveline DC6000 pump, Maxspect Gyre, 2xKessil A360WE, full Apex

02/06/2006, 11:57 AM	#8
Therbligs Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 206	Great. Thanks for you're help. __________________ The day you stop learning is the day you start becoming obsolete! Current Tank Info: 125gal AGA Reef, 72" Outer Orbit(3x150HQI 10k, 4x96 PC Actinics)

02/02/2006, 06:22 PM	#3
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	7am-8:30pm

02/04/2006, 01:58 AM	#7
hipertec Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southern California (Inland Empire) Posts: 1,266	my understanding is that u want the MH for about 7-8 hours. Atinics 1 hour before and after is fine.

02/06/2006, 12:35 PM	#9
Ramble On Rose Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chicago area Posts: 1,461	I'm running each of my MH for 5 hours a piece. There are plenty of people running shortened photoperiods. There is a great thread on it in the SPS forum (somewhere..).

02/08/2006, 09:57 PM	#10
Ploppers Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 320	I just got my power bill for february. My first full month of running the halides and vhos. My bill almost doubled. It's still only $112, but I think I may shorten the photoperiod anyway.

02/09/2006, 06:46 PM	#11
duongtony Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: freemont Posts: 87	MH lights I ran my 2-250 watts MH for only 4 hours a day. All my coarls are happy.. I used to run these lights 8 hours per day and my electricity bill was very high + these lights heated up my Apt ,so I decided to run them for 4 hours per day. NO problem at all. __________________ T.D Current Tank Info: reef

02/11/2006, 11:43 AM	#12
Therbligs Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 206	Reduced the photo period to 8hrs MH with Actinics 1hr before and after last week. I'll see how my corals react in the long run. Actually looks like my Green Bubble Coral is looking better and has more color since I reduced the photo period. Also shifted the time of the day, so that the lights will come on after the heat of the day (5pm Actinic, 6pm MH's). Thanks again for your help. Will post update in a few weeks. __________________ The day you stop learning is the day you start becoming obsolete! Current Tank Info: 125gal AGA Reef, 72" Outer Orbit(3x150HQI 10k, 4x96 PC Actinics)

02/11/2006, 07:22 PM	#13
Fraggle Rock2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 260	I would also suggest making sure that the numbers are actually correct. At one time my electricity bills were way out of whack, my winter was higher than my summer and I had AC units in the summer and radiators for heat. It made absolutely no sense. It turned out they were using estimated electrical use or something. It was really messed up and it was one of the first times I felt totally scammed. Honestly, I don't know what they were doing. I managed to straighten it out somewhat, but since I was about to leave the country I wasn't able to get all my money back. Stupid me, I didn't notice it until after 1 year of over paying. It's probably not the same in your situation, but still something to think about.