Lighting

[vonk]

I have a coralife light. 2 10,000k bulbs and 2 actinic bulbs both 65 watt over my 20g tall and i plan on having coral somewhere down the road but in the mean time, what kind of schedule should i have the lights running on?

 

[wangotango]

Welcome to the boards

If there's nothing in the tank that needs the light then you can leave them off. Once you add corals aim for about 10-12 hours max. Most people start their actinics one hour before the rest of the lights and turn them off an hour after the others go off. What time you have them on depends on when you're home, the fish don't care if it's light during "night."
-Justin

 

[vonk]

sounds good. so until i get the corals i dont have to turn the actinics on at all right?

 

[tlarkin]

correct, fish dont care about light. Corals do.

 

[vonk]

I have a glass lid on it with a rubber strip that runs down the middle. Is that going to dim the light slightly in the middle of the tank? Can i just take the lid off?

 

[smokingreefer]

yes, but more evaporation will take place; thus, forcing you to add more top off water more frequently. They make clear plastic strips for those canopies, or you could take it off and just have to pieces of glass sitting on top.