View Full Version : How Long?
bassn99
02/01/2007, 08:55 AM
This may seem like a dumb question. but I am a newbie.
How long should the lights be left on?
I have a 75 gal reef. and recently added a 125 gal FO.
Henry Bowman
02/01/2007, 09:03 AM
Depends on the lights? What are they? Metal Halide, PC's...
Anyway, I run my lights later in the day since I am home in the evening and want to see the tank then.
Many of us "simulate" a sunrise and sunset. Turning on a few of the dimmer lights first then the brighter ones later, then after the "main" full lighting for the day the mains go off and a while later the dimmer ones go off.
I use T5's (a type of flourescents).
The dimmer blue actinic lights go on at Noon. The brighter main bank of lights come on at 2PM. (the actinics stay on). Then at 10PM the mains go off and at 11PM the dimmer actinics go off.
Eric Borneman (If I recall correctly) has stated that most coral (if this is for your reef tank) get most of their lighting requirements within a few hours of the sun being up. This said, lighting that we put over our tanks varies greatly in intensity. Therefore, you have to adjust to your tank and it's inhabitants after observation.
Hope this helps.
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