Lighting Schedules

[tmelhiser]

Have any of you experimented with lighting schedules?

I'm setting up a new system with a 250w MH with (10k bulb) and 3 39w (2 420nm bulbs and one 460nm bulb) T5's mounted over a 40g breeder.

Since I am coming from a BioCube PC bulb world, I was wondering what type of schedule seems to work best for the folks around here with MH and T5 lighting.

-t

[+dapettit]

Since you are moving from PC to MH your corals will need to be acclimated to the new lighting. Start with four hours per day. If you start seeing bleaching cut it back to 3hrs. Then add 30 to 60 minutes each week until you hit 8 hours. If you are running the T-5's as actinics have them come on 30 to 60 minutes before the MH comes on then 3o to 60 minutes after they go off. I do this when I replace my MH bulbs as well.

Some people run a 10 or 12 hout lighting period.

[Timfish]

I haven't seen much difference between 8 hours to 12 hours with actinics turning on an hour befor and turning off an hour later.

[+dapettit]

I haven't seen much difference between 8 hours to 12 hours with actinics turning on an hour befor and turning off an hour later.

My wife likes the effect.

[Crab Rangoon]

I haven't seen much difference between 8 hours to 12 hours with actinics turning on an hour befor and turning off an hour later.

The biggest difference will not be your tanks inhabitants, but instead your electric bill & how often you replace bulbs

I recall many a lecture, article, or idea from back in the 2004-2007 time swearing that anything beyond 5-6hrs of halide was simply for your viewing pleasure. Take it with a grain of salt, but I feel that 6hrs of halide is plenty of full-blown light to provide the corals in your tank for growth. I've seen many people with longer tanks using multiple lights along the tank that cue up from left to right, so that each individual bulb is only about 5-6hrs a day, but the total MH photo-period may be 7-8hrs overall. Does this make sense? Gives the aesthetic of the sun moving across the aquarium without using a light rail, but also gives you a longer viewing period under full spectrum.

I've used MH + T5 (or PC) together with the halide on anywhere from 5hrs up to 7hrs, generally with the supplement lighting lasting approx 45-90 minutes before & after the MH period. Tinker with it as you please, but definitely start out with short periods to begin with - think 3hrs a day for the first 5-7 days, and add 30-60 mins to the period every 3-4 days. This will be a lot safer in the long run.

[tmelhiser]

Thanks.

Right now, the only inhabitants are 20 hermit crabs. The light schedule right now is: 09:00 - 21:00 for actinic and 13:00 - 18:00 for MH.

I guess I'll back those down as I start introducing corals.

[+Hydro]

I run 1,200 watts over my 175 gallon bow for 12 hrs a day and I run the actinics for 15 hrs a day.

Right or wrong my corals are very happy and are growing quickly.

Personally I believe that the more light that you give them the more they will grow to a point....as far as only giving them 5-6 hrs I think will work but for maximum growth you should run your lights longer than that IMO. Most corals come from around the equator which is 12 hrs of light and 12 hrs of darkness year round.