Lighting schedule

[weez1959]

Just wondering how many hours you guys (metal Halide owners) run your MHs a day. I keep hearing different opinions about this, One guy says they're only on 4 hours a day cuz corals prefer just actinics and my LFS say he runs his home tank 10 hours a day with actinics 12 hours. What's right, is there a right way?

[charlie]

Hey Louise, I run my actinics 2 hours before and after an 8 hour ride with the halides.
Good thread by the way.

[zogzag]

24*40*30

no.1 - 150 w 14000 k open 7.00-11.30
no.2 - 250 w 20000 k open 11.30-15.00
no.3 - 150 w 10000 k open 14.00-20.00
no.1 - 150 w 14000 k open 7.00-21.00

[Reefland]

You should run your halides at least 10 hours per day if they are your main lighting source. We run our 12, but are our only lighting source.

[CSeaSee]

Ditto what Scott said- I've always run them for 11-12 hrs/day, as they are my only lighting source.

[wozza]

36"L 18"W 18"H
1x150W 10000k MH
9" above water surface
ON 12:00
OFF 00:00

im not in during the day so i light the tank from mid-day till mid-night, the fish seem ok wit it as the room is in darkness untill the lights come on.

cheers james

[Doodaa]

I do mine the similar to Charlie...1 hour actinics before and after 8 hours of MH's. But that's just something I pulled outta my arse...I don't know any better, but nothing seems to hate it.

[charlie]

Are getting some ideas here weez?? I think the key is you have to find what works for you and your tank, because as you know, no 2 tanks are alike.

[FireEater]

ON
6:30AM 4' T-5 Actincs
7:00AM 6' T-5 Actinics
7:45AM 3 250W DE MH's 14K
Noon 6' T-5 Daylights

OFF
2PM 6' T-5 Daylights
7:00PM 3 250W DE MH's 14K
9PM 6' T-5 Actinics
10PM 4' T-5 Actinics

Moonlights 24/7

Sump lighting ON at 7:45 OFF at 10PM

I need to reset everything as these times have been off by about 20 minutes either way lately. Just have been to lazy to do it.

[Yankee I Am]

Zog...omg ...Your lights looks lioke something outta star wars...dang!

I have a 24 nano atm, and have a 150w 14000 sunpod coming tomorrow...My compacts have been on from 6am til about 7pm then my blue neon lights from then til 6am...too much day light?? Once my halides get here should I cut down??

[scooterman]

I'm doing only MH right now at 10 hours but only have two fishes at the moment, still building. I will have my lighting on a PLC & it will control everything from pre dawn white LED's, to T5's to mid day MH's the reverse & include lunar cycles for the blue LED's. I just happen to have a few programmer friends & the equipment from our industry to play with so it is cheap but more reliable than any fish made controller It will be a fun project but I have to wait for this one as I have other projects still ongoing along with some nasty issues with a MBV

[charlie]

Ever wish you had just gone with a bunch of sea swirls, with just a constant flow across the bottom to keep it clean?

[scooterman]

Absolutely NOT, no PH will give you the flow & Control that I have, hands down I had the Tunze streams & love them but what I got isn't comparable! Charlie I have a better solution, Paul at OM actually has it in the works, put your fish controller on the OM & you can get unbelievable totally incredible flow options. Think about it, the OM is crazy to plumb, no brain, well I designed one that is simple to plumb with a brain!! I gotta work but will get back to this on a new thread, sorry to derail!

[charlie]

That sounds pretty cool, I will get back here when I get off work today.