How long to leave MH lights on ?

[Deborah]

I have my 175 MH on from 1 oclock to 7 oclock and my VHO actinic on from 12 oclok to 9 oclock. I have lost some fish lately and a LFS said that I am leaving my lights on to long and stressing them out. My water quality is in good shape. I tested it myself and I also took it to my LFS to see if they came up with the same results and they did. The tank has been set up for 7 months, and is a 46 gallon bowfront with 50lbs LR and 60lbs of LS. I also have a skimmer on the tank. She thought I could use some more LR to give them more hiding space and shorten the time my MH are on. Do you think this sounds right. TIA.

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[razorbackfan]

Um...no. I think most of us keep our actinics on for 12+ hours and our Metal Halides on for 10+ hours. My actinics are on from 9am-10pm, Metal Halides on from 11am-9pm. Perhaps the cause of loosing your fish is the way your LFS handles them?

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Jim - GO HOGS GO!
Visit my NEW Reef Page - http://razorbackfan.topcities.com

[This message has been edited by razorbackfan (edited 02-17-2001).]

[Ninong]

Originally posted by Deborah:
I have my 175 MH on from 1 oclock to 7 oclock and my VHO actinic on from 12 oclok to 9 oclock.

Since you posted in the Reef Aquariums forum, I will assume that you have a reef tank. I recommend you increase the time your metal halide light is on from your present 6 hours to 8-10 hours per day, and increase the time the VHO actinic is on from your present 9 hours to 12 hours per day. I suggest you increase the metal halide 1/2 hour per week until you are up to the 8-10 hours (10 hours would be better). You could immediately increase the VHO actinic from your present 9 hours to 12 hours.

I have lost some fish lately and a LFS said that I am leaving my lights on to long and stressing them out.

Unless they are Flashlight Fishes (Anomalopidae) or some other unusual species that require darkness, I would say that you are not stressing them out with a 6-hr per day solar period. Unless they are wondering why the sun goes down so quickly.

The tank has been set up for 7 months, and is a 46 gallon bowfront with 50lbs LR and 60lbs of LS. I also have a skimmer on the tank. She thought I could use some more LR to give them more hiding space

Well, 50-lbs of live rock in a 46-gal tank should be adequate but if you feel like adding another 10-20 lbs, go right ahead.

...and shorten the time my MH are on. Do you think this sounds right?

I think that is ridiculous. I'll add that to my collection of famous advice from LFS geniuses. [img]/ubb/eek3.gif[/img]

Ninong [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]



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Irrational Exuberance!

[Deborah]

I thought that it sounded wrong but only being in this hobby for the last 7 months, thought that I wopuld ask the people on this board who knows more than these LFS. She also said that since my tank is only a 46 gallon that that is alot of light. Well my corals look great. In fact I have better luck with them than I do fish. All I can figure is these are syinide(not sure os spelling) caught fish. I will always ask now if there are captive breed. The funny thing is that I had a flame angel for 2 weeks and them all of a sudden I woke up the other morning and it was dead on the bottom. Thanks for all the help everyone, not sure what I would do without this forum.

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[reefland]

Originally posted by Ninong:
I think that is ridiculous. I'll add that to my collection of famous advice from LFS geniuses. [img]/ubb/eek3.gif[/img]

Ninong [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Added to my list as well! [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

I may have missed a comment but do you have these fish for any amount of time before they cross or is it within day or so of adding them?

[Ninong]

Deborah ~

The Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loriculus) is a beautiful fish that should be OK in a 46-gal tank with nice live rock. Since your tank has been up for 7 months now and you say the water parameters are OK, I suspect that your LFS is buying cheap fish from questionable sources. It could be that the quality of their livestock does not rise above the quality of their advice. In which case, you are in deep do-do.

You should be aware that this fish is frequently a problem in reef tanks because it will sometimes nip at Tridacnid clam mantels and some corals. I would estimate that your chance of having a problem with a Flame Angel in a reef tank is at least 50-50. If you do want to try another one, I suggest you try to get one from Hawaii. They are healthier, a brighter red, and not cyanide captured... also, they are more expensive.

Good luck with your tank and start to increase your photo-period. Be sure to tell the LFS that you read this on one of those "Internet Boards" [img]/ubb/tongue.gif[/img] ... and if you see that they are selling any reefkeeping books, like Tullock's or Fenner's, be sure to ask if they have ever read any of that reactionary advice. [img]/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

Ninong [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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Irrational Exuberance!

[omegatron]

I have my actinics on from 10am to 10pm. My halides are on from 11am to 9pm. This is a standard photoperiod for a reef tank. Most LFS people are wacked [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

Chuck

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[Ltspd]

I am suprised they LFS didnt suggest adding more bio-balls. [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img] That seems to be the mindset around here at the LFS's. Good luck with your problem.

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Paul C
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Einstein

[This message has been edited by Ltspd (edited 02-17-2001).]

[Ninong]

Originally posted by omegatron:
Most LFS people are wacked [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

Chuck

Yes, and the funny part is they don't even realize it!!! [img]/ubb/eek3.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/eek3.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/eek3.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/eek3.gif[/img]

They go blissfully along telling people that "most marine fish do not get much bigger than 4 inches in home aquariums." I think they mean that very few of their fish live long enough to get bigger than 4 inches.

Or the LFS owner who told me that the only reason he has a 1/2" layer of sand in the bottom of his reef display tank is to "look natural." And that the reason he doesn't sell metal halides is because "they will burn your corals."

And what about the LFS in Dallas that is convinced that any sandbed deeper than 1.5"-2" will erupt in hydrogen sulfide volcanoes that will wipe out your tank. [img]/ubb/eek3.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

I could go on all day but my ribs are hurting, so I won't. [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

Ninong [img]/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

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Irrational Exuberance!

[reefland]

As Mr. saltjunkie would say:

"Somebody kick me in my lungs" [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

[razorbackfan]

Deborah I would ask your LFS where they get their fish from, and if they're hand caught. If they are reputable they should have no problem telling you. If not find another LFS. Mine imports a lot from a wholesaler who is on this board and I know hers are going to live, in fact I ask, "Did that come from Mary?". Another store near me writes the date they get their fish in on their display tanks. If you want one they will hold it for you, let you see it eat. Also I don't know how you're doing acclimation, but using a drip method over an hour or so is best.

Ninong Now now, let's not get the DSB thread started again. By the way, what kind of anemone is this? [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]


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Jim - GO HOGS GO!
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[This message has been edited by razorbackfan (edited 02-17-2001).]

[Ninong]

Originally posted by razorbackfan:
By the way, what kind of anemone is this? [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

LFS response: It's a "stinging" anemone.

Ninong [img]/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

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Irrational Exuberance!

[Hook]

The best one I have ever heard was from a friend of mine I hadn't seen in a while. She told me she had recently started a salwater tank and I told her to stay away from a particular lfs. She said she had already learned that lesson, but she had to tell me about the advice they had given her about a filter....."You need to take out all of those carbon filter things, because they will keep all of the salt from getting back into your tank...." [img]/ubb/rolleyes.gif[/img]

~~~Hook