Lighting time on advice

[Wayne]

I have just picked up a 250w metal halide with 2 65w atinics. I also have 4 T5HO (24w each) 1 atinic, 1 coral growth (6500k?) and 2 10,000k.

So here is what I want to do: atinics come on at 5:45am so I can feed fish before work, T5 days come on at 8am, 250 halides come on at 3pm. Then at 7pm T5's and Metal halide turn off. 8:45pm atinics turn off.

So I will have 15hrs of atinics and 11hrs of day light. Any thoughts/advice would be awsome

[chris88]

It might be overkill. I would gradually work you way up to that much. I think its possible but i think you should play on the safe size. How deep is tank and what are you keeping for corals?

[The Grizz]

What chris88 said & asked and how high off the tank are the light's

[Wayne]

My tank is about 20" tall and the T5's are currently about 4-5" above that and the metal halides are 7-8" above. When I build the canopy this week all the lights positions will be reversed.

If you guys recommend having them higher I need to know tonight because tomarrow I start cutting

In my tank I have cabbage coral, pulsing xenia, frog spawn, mushrooms, candy cane coral, zoas, flower pots, kenya tree, GSP, toad stools. I also have a clam. All of the low light stuff is near bottom and off to the sides. All the higher light stuff is center and positioned higher.

[chris88]

i wouldnt move them higher unless they are in risk of being splashed by salt water. I just think you should build up to that long of a photoperiod. My only concern is the duration not the intensity. Can't you feed the fish when you get home and not have the actinics come on so early? I find the fish eat better later in the day anyways.

[Wayne]

I will gradually work the intensity up and I can certainly feed the fish in the evening. To reduce the duration what time should I move the atinics on to?

Also I should note that when its time for my next bulb change I am considering changing all the T5's to different daytime colors without atinics. I will still have 2 65w atinics.