How do you cycle your Actinic & 10K lights?

lotsofgallons · 12/08/2006, 02:09 PM

how do you cycle your actinic and 10k bulbs over the course of 24 hours, assuming you have a fixture with multiple cords using timers?

what are the pros in your setup?

Ti · 12/08/2006, 03:11 PM

dawn to dusk

CapnKick · 12/08/2006, 03:46 PM

12hrs VHO overlapped by 6hrs MH, 8hrs moonlight. Less time would probably mean I would have to clean the glass less, but I like having the lights on late because I'm a night owl. The schedule is as follows:

12PM: VHOs on
4PM: MH on
10PM: MH off
12AM: VHOs off
1AM: moonlight on
9AM: moonlight off

CapnKick · 12/08/2006, 03:47 PM

Mine are 14K, not sure if that affects the desired photoperiod vs. 10K.

BLANKENSHIP76 · 12/08/2006, 04:36 PM

cap n kick, I have the same set up as you almost exactly except I have PC not VHOs. I run my halides 8 hrs a day and the PC 12 hrs. Just wondering why only the halides 6 hrs instead of 8?

9 am-----acintic PC ON
11am halides on
7pm----halides off
9pm acintics off

my moonlights go all day everyday, i guess i need to buy a timer

CapnKick · 12/08/2006, 04:41 PM

I figured with the MHs on 8 hrs I would have algae issues. Blankenship, do you have any algae problems? I just use the magnet cleaner on the viewing surfaces once or twice a week, other than that no issues.

Maybe I can bump up to 8 hrs...? It looks MUCH better with the halides on!

BLANKENSHIP76 · 12/08/2006, 05:05 PM

I really don't have any algae issues, I probably clean the viewing area 3 times a week with a magnet, and thats it. If I am overfeeding I have to clean everyday, but other than that their isn't any issues.

CapnKick · 12/08/2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BLANKENSHIP76
I really don't have any algae issues, I probably clean the viewing area 3 times a week with a magnet, and thats it. If I am overfeeding I have to clean everyday, but other than that their isn't any issues.

Cool, I might up the timing of my MHs then. What's your temp? Do you use a chiller? I have an enclosed canopy with an open back and use three IceCap fans. My temp hovers around 81.

BLANKENSHIP76 · 12/08/2006, 08:35 PM

I have an open top. My lights are enclosed in a fixture. I keep the lights 8 inches off the tank. I have a clip on fan that I have on the same timer as the halides, and it blows over the top of tank while the halides are on. I have to keep a heater on in the winter and my tank stays around 78.5 degrees, and in the summer with an air conditioned house the tank stays the same with the fan on it. On really hot days I sometimes add a 2nd clip on fan, but I do not need a chiller.

BLANKENSHIP76 · 12/08/2006, 08:36 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=987154

Here is a link with some pics of my tank

CapnKick · 12/09/2006, 06:47 PM

Awesome tank pics, I'm envious. My tank has only been up for four or five months, and my calcareous algae are finally starting to populate the back wall. Great tank!

12/08/2006, 02:09 PM	#1
lotsofgallons Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: florida Posts: 249	How do you cycle your Actinic & 10K lights? how do you cycle your actinic and 10k bulbs over the course of 24 hours, assuming you have a fixture with multiple cords using timers? what are the pros in your setup?

12/08/2006, 03:11 PM	#2
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	dawn to dusk __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

12/08/2006, 03:46 PM	#3
CapnKick Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 189	12hrs VHO overlapped by 6hrs MH, 8hrs moonlight. Less time would probably mean I would have to clean the glass less, but I like having the lights on late because I'm a night owl. The schedule is as follows: 12PM: VHOs on 4PM: MH on 10PM: MH off 12AM: VHOs off 1AM: moonlight on 9AM: moonlight off __________________ Curator of the North Point Marine Aquarium & Bar Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 29G sump/refugium, 2x250W DE MH, 4x110W VHO, AquaC EV180

12/08/2006, 03:47 PM	#4
CapnKick Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 189	Mine are 14K, not sure if that affects the desired photoperiod vs. 10K. __________________ Curator of the North Point Marine Aquarium & Bar Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 29G sump/refugium, 2x250W DE MH, 4x110W VHO, AquaC EV180

12/08/2006, 04:41 PM	#6
CapnKick Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 189	I figured with the MHs on 8 hrs I would have algae issues. Blankenship, do you have any algae problems? I just use the magnet cleaner on the viewing surfaces once or twice a week, other than that no issues. Maybe I can bump up to 8 hrs...? It looks MUCH better with the halides on! __________________ Curator of the North Point Marine Aquarium & Bar Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 29G sump/refugium, 2x250W DE MH, 4x110W VHO, AquaC EV180

12/08/2006, 04:36 PM	#5
BLANKENSHIP76 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 827	cap n kick, I have the same set up as you almost exactly except I have PC not VHOs. I run my halides 8 hrs a day and the PC 12 hrs. Just wondering why only the halides 6 hrs instead of 8? 9 am-----acintic PC ON 11am halides on 7pm----halides off 9pm acintics off my moonlights go all day everyday, i guess i need to buy a timer

12/08/2006, 05:05 PM	#7
BLANKENSHIP76 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 827	I really don't have any algae issues, I probably clean the viewing area 3 times a week with a magnet, and thats it. If I am overfeeding I have to clean everyday, but other than that their isn't any issues.

12/08/2006, 08:35 PM	#9
BLANKENSHIP76 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 827	I have an open top. My lights are enclosed in a fixture. I keep the lights 8 inches off the tank. I have a clip on fan that I have on the same timer as the halides, and it blows over the top of tank while the halides are on. I have to keep a heater on in the winter and my tank stays around 78.5 degrees, and in the summer with an air conditioned house the tank stays the same with the fan on it. On really hot days I sometimes add a 2nd clip on fan, but I do not need a chiller.

12/08/2006, 08:36 PM	#10
BLANKENSHIP76 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 827	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=987154 Here is a link with some pics of my tank

12/09/2006, 06:47 PM	#11
CapnKick Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 189	Awesome tank pics, I'm envious. My tank has only been up for four or five months, and my calcareous algae are finally starting to populate the back wall. Great tank! __________________ Curator of the North Point Marine Aquarium & Bar Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 29G sump/refugium, 2x250W DE MH, 4x110W VHO, AquaC EV180