Tank Lights On and Off Several Times a Day ?

[DiverDude]

Noob question: I'd like to turn on my tank lights when I feed in the mornings but I've held back on doing that since I don't want to screw-up the tank's 'biological clock'. After all, the lights are their sun and the sun doesn't pop-up for 10 minutes in the morning and then go back to sleep for ~4 hrs before coming out for the day !

I know this isn't going to kill anything but I'd like the opinions of more experienced reefers as to whether I'm stressing the tank at all if I were to do this.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by DiverDude

Noob question: I'd like to turn on my tank lights when I feed in the mornings but I've held back on doing that since I don't want to screw-up the tank's 'biological clock'. After all, the lights are their sun and the sun doesn't pop-up for 10 minutes in the morning and then go back to sleep for ~4 hrs before coming out for the day !

I know this isn't going to kill anything but I'd like the opinions of more experienced reefers as to whether I'm stressing the tank at all if I were to do this.

I am not sure if you are stressing things, but I would personally setup a lighting schedule so you have things on for a certain amount of time.

For example, my lights turn on at noon, and turn off at 11pm, when lights are off, moon lights are on.

[George]

Is the tank description in your signature accurate? If it is, I assume you have a fish only tank. You can turn on and off the light a couple of times a day no problem.

[howdy20012002]

....

[DiverDude]

Originally Posted by George

Is the tank description in your signature accurate? If it is, I assume you have a fish only tank. You can turn on and off the light a couple of times a day no problem.

I guess I could update it to be more specific since I'm a noob and details can be important. I have a couple of Yellow Tail Damsels, an Orange Spotted Watchman Goby, Red Banded Coral Shrimp and a Sand Sifting Sea Star. I'm looking to start on some LPS and am looking to upgrade my lights so i can look at some SPS.

I currently have a schedule running where the lights come on a little after noon (12:30 to be precise) and shut off at 11:30PM. This is because I work long hours and I want the tank lit when I'm at home at night. Otherwise, I'd just set the lights to come on in the morning and shut down ~11 hrs later.

[new but handy]

what do you have for coral?

[DiverDude]

No coral just yet but it's coming -LPS only until I figure out some kind of lighting upgrade.

[new but handy]

if you have no coral then you can do whatever you want with your lights