light timing

[tontra]

Is it ok to set my lights to go on for a 4-5 hour period in the morning and again at night?

[bertoni]

That might be okay, but the pattern is rather unnatural, so it's hard to say. You could try it and see.

[tontra]

The reason why is because i want to see the tank lit up at times when im home.

[bertoni]

I wouldn't let the tank get dark in between, but otherwise, you're probably fine. I'd probably just run the lights for ten hours straight, though, and have them on when I'm home.

[skydvr]

set them to come on after you leave in the morning.
Just go back 10 or 12 hours from when you want them to go off.

You'll have a little bit of natural light comming in before your tank lights come on. Better than the shock of them comming on suddenly.