photo periods - Page 2

TheRealBigAL · #1 03-06-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenz0

came across this thread tonight and found it extremely interesting. I am going to change my lighting to shorter periods with my growing bulbs while staying the same with my supplimentals.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

Great link ! Thanks. I am now going to be changing my lighting schedule

ColinD · #2 03-06-2009, 12:37 PM

saw the same post on reef central last week, and after a week of 5 hour photo periods I've definitely seen a difference, much more polyp extension and all my SPS are colouring up quite nicely. I don't really need the lights on when I'm at work anyways and evaporation has been quite a bit less as well.

Colin

fishytime · #3 03-06-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenz0

From what i have noticed in my tank I actually had to bring my schedual down once from 10-9 hours and i have noticed improvement. Today i was thinking how my T5's are producing to much light and in some cases I have also noticed that even milli's in the higher points in my tank are losing color and a stylo on the sand is losing it's base color. My acro's are doing decent but have become a bit dull so right now i am going to give this a shot. i will be updating my build thread so i will have before and after shots.

Ok trying really hard not to come off sounding harsh but, your tank is basically brand spankin new. I would venture to guess that is why you are losing color in some of your acros....and as far as the stylo goes....I warned you about them, did I not?

lorenz0 · #4 03-06-2009, 01:37 PM

lol on my wicked frag order we needed an extra $25 to get half off for shipping so i paid it and told dave to suprise me and thats what he sent me. Its actually doing good and its been 2 weeks, just lost a bit of color. I test my water every second day, lose of color for sure is due to the light. I moved the stylo higher in the tank for a day and the light basically cooked it, its back down in the lower part of the tank and color has come back.

Black Phantom · #5 03-06-2009, 02:14 PM

It's interesting. We put very high intensity bulbs over our tanks and then we turn off the lights

I have my 50 gal with just one 14000k 150MH over it. There's lots of light for my SPS and I can run my lights all day. That way I can actually enjoy "seeing" my fish and corals

Aquattro · #6 03-06-2009, 02:16 PM

My current tank runs at 6 hours, better results than I've ever had, color-wise. Growth is not a concern, I actually prefer less growth.

fishytime · #7 03-07-2009, 12:00 AM

Really think you have your issue misdiagnosed. Just my opinion though.

mark · #8 03-06-2009, 03:13 PM

interesting link, less is more

Koresample · #9 03-06-2009, 05:17 PM

For me i had too many variables, i switched from a 2 bulb 10k and actinic, to a 4 bulb 420/460 and 700+ lights, different fixture and programming. I was running 12hrs on and 12 off, now the auto programming on the aquaticlife fixture runs the 420/460 from 8am to 8pm, the 700+ from 10am to 5pm and the moonlights from 8pm to 11:30 pm. I have notice a large increase in my coral algae growth, almost no nuisance algae at all and all my corals are getting more colourful. Like i said though, too many variables as i also switched to RO water, started testing/optimizing chemistry, added a refugium...on and on and on. If everything is equal, then the lights could be the reason, but too many other things have also changed. when i started my tank i started a journal and keep track of all my water changes, dates of testing and results, even when a fish dies. This is the only way imho that you can say one thing or another really had an effect.