How Should I TIme My Lights - With Blue LED accents?

[Robamus]

OK guys so Ive got a question on my lighting...

I have a 72 gallon bowfront with PC lighting. There are 4 Bulbs, 2 10Ks, and 2 Dual Blues (420nm/470nm I think it is). I also have some blue LED lights, basically its 12 1 watt blue LEDs. Makes the polyps and things looks neat.

So I dont know how I should time all of this. Right now, I have it set to the following which I recently changed to:
8AM Actinic On
10AM 10Ks On
6PM 10Ks Off
9PM Actinic Off
9PM Blue LED On
11:30 Blue LED Off

Do you guys use these blue LEDs and how do you use them with your other lights?

[sruiz]

some have said it mimics the actual moon at night and there may be a benefit , I personally think it justs makes it look cool. At this moment I am running a metal halide fixture with the moon lights built in and have not even set them up on a timer. You should have them turn on when your pc 's turn off and turn them off before your pcs go on. There are people that have their metal halides running at night instead of the daytime. Guess thats the only time they can enjoy their tank due to their busy schedule, in that case I'm not sure when you would want to run your moon lights??

[Sisterlimonpot]

blue LEDs are for your benifit. if you like night veiwing than leave them on until you go to bed. I personally leave mine on all night until the other lights kick on.

[Jeff]

I agree, moom lights are for your benefit. Your light cycle is really long. Everything growing ok?

[Robamus]

Well ok let me clarify... The LEDs are NOT moonlights. These are accent lights that they sell at my LFS. They are very bright, but very focused as well. As for the length of light, it was a bit shorter before, but I looked at the current TOTM and thought it would be OK if I made my cycle a bit longer so I could enjoy it more.. Bad idea?

[Sisterlimonpot]

it's not a bad idea, the idea is to find what works for your tank to obtain maximum growth (if that's what you want) or whatever you want to acheive. If TOTM does it, doesn't mean it will work for you but if it's working out then by no means is it a bad idea.

[Robamus]

Well yeah I get that :D

Does anyone actually have some lights like these LEDs? I guess I want to know how they affect things and what kind of timing they use. As for the Actinics and 10Ks, how would you guys suggest doing it? Forget about the LEDs...

[davewbush]

I run pc's too. For many years I turned my actinics on at 5:30am, 10000ks on at 6:30am, 10000ks off at 6:30pm, and actinincs off at 7:30pm.

Now I run a 12 hour cycle. Actinics on at 9am, 10000k on at 10am, 10000k off at 8pm, actinics off at 9pm. I have a little GHA that I'm trying to get rid of, this is why I cut my lights back. IMO a 14 hour cycle isn't a problem with pc's.

[Robamus]

Cool... So heres two photos og my tank, one just after I got it, and another more recently. Note how the mushrooms on the right are all gone, and my hammer corral, although better then last week, is not as happy. The third photo is of the blue LEDs so you guys can see what they are.
http://gallery.me.com/robcarian/100148/IMG_0831/web.jpg?ver=12395761560001
http://gallery.me.com/robcarian/100148/IMG_0882/web.jpg?ver=12395761570001
http://gallery.me.com/robcarian/100148/IMG_0827/web.jpg?ver=12395763180001