Advice Required for lighting periods

[DiverDude]

Far from being an expert on this but my thought is that the sun does not rise and set twice in a day. Ergo, such a schedule might screw-up their 'internal clocks'.

Anyone have anything more concrete ?

[Atomikk]

What I found works amazingly well for my system is to have a slow progression of light intesity and spectrum. I have T5 actinics and 400W Radium 20K. The T5s go on first to ease corals and fish into the day. Then only one of the MHs turns on. After 2 hrs, the second MH turns on, but the T5s turn off. Corals should only be subjected to about 4-5 hrs of intense light (whatever spectrum, 10K-20K). Otherwise they photosaturate, and can recess. After the last MH bulbs turns off, the actincs turn on to again ease the fish/corals into complete darkness.

HTH

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by Atomikk

What I found works amazingly well for my system is to have a slow progression of light intesity and spectrum. I have T5 actinics and 400W Radium 20K. The T5s go on first to ease corals and fish into the day. Then only one of the MHs turns on. After 2 hrs, the second MH turns on, but the T5s turn off. Corals should only be subjected to about 4-5 hrs of intense light (whatever spectrum, 10K-20K). Otherwise they photosaturate, and can recess. After the last MH bulbs turns off, the actincs turn on to again ease the fish/corals into complete darkness.

HTH

Cool, great advice... can anyone confirm this, was/am I hitting them too hard?

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Atomikk

What I found works amazingly well for my system is to have a slow progression of light intesity and spectrum. I have T5 actinics and 400W Radium 20K. The T5s go on first to ease corals and fish into the day. Then only one of the MHs turns on. After 2 hrs, the second MH turns on, but the T5s turn off. Corals should only be subjected to about 4-5 hrs of intense light (whatever spectrum, 10K-20K). Otherwise they photosaturate, and can recess. After the last MH bulbs turns off, the actincs turn on to again ease the fish/corals into complete darkness.

HTH

i do the same if you think about it your trying to mimic where it comes from, i start with t5's in the morning then go halides for about 4-5 hours then i use actinics in the evening.its all done by a timer so i dont mess it up.

in my new set up i plan to phase in moon phases and seasonal time differences cheers

[globaldesigns]

Thanks, I appreciate your comments.

This is what I just changed it to:

T5's turn on at noon, MH's turn on at 5PM, then turn off at 10PM, T5's turn off at pm

I think this is better, maybe my slow recovery is due to too much blasting of light.

Your thoughts on my new configuration?

[Atomikk]

I would keep the T5s off until both MHs turn off,then turn them on. Personally, i think that it is unnecessary to keep them on during the 'day'.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Atomikk

I would keep the T5s off until both MHs turn off,then turn them on. Personally, i think that it is unnecessary to keep them on during the 'day'.

i agree with that also my halides are on by them selves when they are on

[globaldesigns]

I revised things a bit more, will see how that works... As I only have 2 T5's and they are actinics, I will leave them on with the Halides, as it does assist to make my lighting appear very white, not yellow as 10k's can do.

This is what I just changed it to:

T5's turn on at 9am, MH's turn on at 4PM, then turn off at 9PM, T5's turn off at 10pm

I will give this a shot and see how things reacte, hopefully damaged coral from over the summer will like it.

What do you all think, will this config work?

[reefwars]

i think its much better. alot of coral react differently and change when its dark so its stressfull to do so more than needed .
also distance from the coral is a big factor i had to tinker with my height to get good growth, now any thing i add out grows my tank in a few months.

glad to hear your tank is making a recovery, sometimes its slow at first and then your growth takes off again cheers