How long should I have my lights on?

[phishin420]

I don't have any timers on my setup just yet. I try to stay as acurate on time as I can but I know they are running to long b/c I forget about it. I turn on my compact white light in the morning (7:50) than when I get home about 5 in the after noon I turn on the blue light and run them both until about 7 than I do blue only until about 9. to much?

 

[reefkprz]

you want about a 12 hour light cycle, running your actinics a little longer isnt going to hurt anything.
here is how I do mine (i have timers though)
7am actinics (blue) turn on, 8am 10ks(white) turn on, 11 am extra set of lights turns on to simulate high noon both actinic and 10k, 2pm extra set turns off, 6pm 10k turns off, 7pm actinics turn off. 12 hour daylight cycle, some people run longer some run shorter, some people run the day later so the lights are on later into the evening for viewing, but about a 12 hour day is roughly what you want.

 

[phishin420]

Thanks for the info, those damn timers are some expensive or I would've picked up a few. I figured the blue should be on later rather than the white. Should I be doing it the other way? Also I like to leave mine on for viewing b/c I have friedns that come and go and sometimes I have diffrent days off so its never like a set time unless i'm going to work. I don't have much algae growth and I only have 1 anenome.

 

[zak]

i have my actinics and 10k on the same timer so that they turn on at the same time. Is this ok or should the actinics come on earlier and go off later? Also, my moon lights are set to come on when my actinics and 10k go off. My tank is new and has nothing but water in it right now, just wanted to get everything right before livestock. Thanks for the help.

 

[reefkprz]

most people run the actinics first and last to simulate dusk and dawn. I like viewing my tank under actinics because I have a lot of zoas, palys, plating corals and things that flouresce (glow). you can just turn on and off both at the same time if you like its not going to hurt anything.

 

[teeithigh16]

reef, do you have a PC or MH's?

 

[reefkprz]

pcs for now I have about 500watts. I'm working on a DIY MH set up but its nowhere near ready.

 

[ncprowler]

Originally Posted by phishin420
Thanks for the info, those damn timers are some expensive or I would've picked up a few. I figured the blue should be on later rather than the white. Should I be doing it the other way? Also I like to leave mine on for viewing b/c I have friedns that come and go and sometimes I have diffrent days off so its never like a set time unless i'm going to work. I don't have much algae growth and I only have 1 anenome.

I got my timers from Walmart like $8 for each! They work great for me!!

 

[nate0729]

I got mine from Home Depot for like $4.50. Only one on/off, but that's all you need.

 

[yerboy]

My lights are
8am actinic on
12am 10kMH and 10k pc on
5pm mh and pc off
8pm actinic off
Night LEDs are on 24/7
My fug lights are on when my MH is off " was told it was good to keep white light on water at all times to keep PH stable