How many hours a day should I have my lights on?

[disco bay jn]

I have a 180g with two 250w MH lights on it. How long should I keep my lights on a day? I have heard many different times, and I know I can get good advice on this forum.

 

[alix2.0]

i leave my lights on for 8 hours a day, my actinics for 10.

 

[jamesvishiou]

strong lighting like metal halides should be roughly 8 hours. T-5's should be around 9 or so, VHO's, Actinics, and Power Compacts about 10.

 

[disco bay jn]

My friend said that we need to replicate the summer sun on the reefs, 12 hours a day. What would be the down side of to much light timting?

 

[alix2.0]

algae.

 

[nycbob]

if heating is not an issue, then 12 hours r fine. most coral fraggers leave the light on for a long time to make coral frags grow faster.

 

[disco bay jn]

I've got a 1/3 chiller, so heat is no problem.

 

[nycbob]

then 12 hours shouldnt be a problem. but being an environmentalist, having the light that long is killing our planet.

 

[alix2.0]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/2542569
then 12 hours shouldnt be a problem. but being an environmentalist, having the light that long is killing our planet.
i agree, especially with MH's. but then again this hobby in general is killing our planet.

 

[nycbob]

for the most part yes. i actually try to buy aquacultured corals whenever i can.

 

[alix2.0]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/2542615
for the most part yes. i actually try to buy aquacultured corals whenever i can.
me too. fish and corals. but you know...

 

[disco bay jn]

Are you guys f-ing serious? We are all playing god in our own little fabricated world! My question wasn't about global warming, or my carbon footprint on this earth. It was about the growth of my corals in my 180!

 

[disco bay jn]

Honestly, we are just a spec of dust in the big picture of evolution. We ultimately, we have no control of what mother earth and space have in store for us. Have you seen "The history of the earth", on TLC?

 

[interex]

Originally Posted by Disco Bay JN
http:///forum/post/2542625
Are you guys f-ing serious? We are all playing god in our own little fabricated world! My question wasn't about global warming, or my carbon footprint on this earth. It was about the growth of my corals in my 180!

lol thats what i was thinking f-ing great lol.

 

[disco bay jn]

Your profile pic is awesome!

 

[salty blues]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/2542569
then 12 hours shouldnt be a problem. but being an environmentalist, having the light that long is killing our planet.
Is this info according to Al Gore or some other "authority"?

 

[alix2.0]

im not trying to bum anyone out or anything. the reefs are significantly smaller than they were 100 years ago, you can't argue with that. it is from different causes but you definately can't say that this hobby is good for natural reefs. thats all im sayin.
but thats not what this thread is about. illchay.

 

[nycbob]

i didnt mean to chastise anyone. i just wanted to point it out to every reefers out there that we can all do a little but to preserve and save this planet.

 

[salty blues]

I move that all folks who truly believe that the sw/reef hobby is killing our planet should immediately cease and desist from any further practicing of such evil.

I shall now prepare to do a weekly partial water change of my system.

Just making a little fun here folks, but flame me if you must.