How long run lights for mixed tank?

[duganderson]

I have a 34g. Red Sea mixed reef with 2 RBTA, softies, gorge, LPS and a few easy spa (montis and birds nest). I have a retrofit LED kit.

How long do you tend to recommend that I run the light?

I only run 8 hours now.....how quickly can I ramp up the time (for example....increase 1 hour every 3 days)?

[mcgyvr]

8-12 hours is fine..
8 is really all thats needed but I run 12 hours just so I can enjoy it more..
IMO you can change right away if you want..

[vettemedx]

when you say 8 hours is that including the ramp up and moonlight time as well or just the full sun setting? I'm somewhat new and just assed my first leather and gbta.

[Voodoojar]

Lately I've been constantly monitoring PAR just so I can have the data really. I've set the monitor on the overflow and just leave it there. Right now my light schedule is like this

6 Dimmable T5 39w
2 36" Reefbrite XHO 50/50
4 blue cree LED for moonlight.

6am the T5s turn on at 1% power and begins to ramp up at 10am it's at 320 PAR
10am the LEDs also turn on and PAR goes up to 700 it stays like this until 4pm
at 4pm the LEDs turn off and it drops back down to 320PAR
4am - the T5 begin to ramp down at 8pm they turn off
8pm moon lights turn on. They are just four 3w blue LEDs and these stay on until 6am.

So basically I have light on in some form 24/7 but I only have really strong light on for 6 hours a day. This seems to be working for me but I really need more time to monitor and tweak to get it right.

[scooter31707]

I run mines for 12 hours a day. My tank gets 4 hours of blue lights and 8 hours of blue/white combine.

[scooter31707]

Moonlights really don't accomplish anything.

[ca1ore]

I've always run my lights 12 on/12 off, though used various means to ramp up and down, so not all 12 are at the max. I do run moonlights, but more for me than the animals.

[cincyjim]

My blues come on at 10am, white at 12pm, white off at 5pm, blues off at 7:15pm. So that is 9:15 hours a day. I do run moonlights from 7pm to 7am.