Saltwaterfish.com › Forums › Welcome to the Hobby! › Tips and Techniques › What are your lighting schedules, especially now with LED's and advanced timers
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What are your lighting schedules, especially now with LED's and advanced timers

post #1 of 6
1/26/12 at 8:08pm
Thread Starter 

I have LED's and my AI timer basically can do anything and everything.  What you guys do?

Reply
post #2 of 6
1/26/12 at 8:24pm

I have a DIY LED build and my lights dim on and off, this is my schedule over my 180:

 

Blue lights start dimming on a 8AM and continue to go up until 10AM until they reach 90%. They stay on all day

White lights begin kicking on at 12PM and take about 60-90 minutes to get up to - 70%

White begin to dim at 6PM, and are completely off around 7PM

Blue's start dimming at 9PM, off at 10PM

Reply
post #3 of 6
1/27/12 at 6:12am
Thread Starter 

That seems like a good schedule.  I'm thinking of changing mine.  I got a lot going on. Mine start later and go off later.  I see that you only have your lights on fully for 6 hours.  Thats enough for your coral?Mine start coming on around 11ish and go off around 11 again.  Almost 12 hours.  Too long ya think?

Reply
post #4 of 6
1/28/12 at 12:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CAM78 View Post

That seems like a good schedule.  I'm thinking of changing mine.  I got a lot going on. Mine start later and go off later.  I see that you only have your lights on fully for 6 hours.  Thats enough for your coral?Mine start coming on around 11ish and go off around 11 again.  Almost 12 hours.  Too long ya think?



It's been working. I have insane growth in my tank, especially of the SPS. Any longer and things were starting to loose color/bake. I actually have to be careful with where I place certain LPS pieces because the LED's will cook them.

Here's one of the things you need to keep in mind about LEDs: The PAR doesn't change regardless of whether you're pushing 50% or 100%, so even though it takes a while for them to ramp up to the desired percentage, the corals are still getting the PAR from 10% on.

Reply
post #5 of 6
1/28/12 at 8:55am
Thread Starter 

Hmm, I wonder if I should cut back my time?  

Reply
post #6 of 6
1/28/12 at 9:05am

I would look to nature for that answer.  While in the tropics there is Sun 12 hours it is really only intense Sun for about 4 hours between 10 and 2. 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Tips and Techniques
Saltwaterfish.com › Forums › Welcome to the Hobby! › Tips and Techniques › What are your lighting schedules, especially now with LED's and advanced timers