how long too long for lights on

skiper gre

Member
How long is too long to run your lights on a new reef tank. Would it hurt to run the lights too long? The only fish I have is two damsels I think they are chromies. just added ten red claw hermits today. The tank has been running for just over a week. Just tested today ammonia, nitrate and nitrite all at zero ph seemed high 8.8 that was after lights on about 14 hrs. today.
 

effloresce

Member
i would cut the hours back to 9-10 hours or less, since you ahev no corals you dont have the need to run the lgith long (14hrs is to long for anything IMO) save the energy and the light life.
 

skiper gre

Member
moderator? could you move this to the newbee section and see if I get better responce?
will it hurt to run the lights to long?
 
T

thomas712

Guest
skiper -
I would advise you not to add anything else living to the aquarium. It sounds like you have not yet challenged your cycle. Things are going to get mighty tough on those inverts when the ammonia goes up. The fish as well.
Double check those stats with the LFS. Your ammonia should be picking up any day.
With regards to the lights you should only have them on for a few hours per day if you like. This will help prevent the normal agae blooms that occur in new tanks during and after the cycle. When I started my 90 the lights were off for the first couple of weeks or so. Then I only turned them on for a couple of hours per day after that. I didn't go full cycle of 8-10 hours until after the cycle was complete and I started to stock it.
Thomas
 
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