how long do you keep your mh on

[levylizard]

Just wonder how long i should keep my mh on for. I have a 90 gallon tank with two 250 watt de mh. Currently i turn them on at 8:00am and turn them off at 8:00 pm is this too long. Thanks. Also ever since i have added these lights i have to clean my glass once a day is this normal. Thanks again

[LivingTropicals]

4-5 hours staggered between 3 bulbs.

[graveyardworm]

VHO actinics on at 8 AM off at 8:30 PM, MH on at 10 AM off at 7 PM.

[Gabi480]

12 like you and I have had no problem

[smoknreefrs]

about 6.5 hrs.............

[wetWolger]

10hr vho's....8hr mh

[fishpimp69]

what i don't get is why people run there mhs with such different time frames? Some run 5 hours and some 12. What makes the difference between these people's tanks?

[garvondavis14]

it can depend on what corals you're keeping, some people don't have coolers and their water may get too hot, some ppl try to replicate the sun (a lto of ppl do this diff.), etc. etc. there are tons of reasons...right now i'm limited to 4 hrs with mh until i install another fan

[Wiggawam]

Also depends on if it is bb or dsb etc. I've ntoiced most people with a low nutrient tank run the ights shorter or the colors fade.

[LOTUS50GOD]

11 hours... from 9 to 8

[Anemonebuff]

10-11 hours 2x40 NO actinics and 8-9 hours MHs

[cc3]

9am - 12noon: power compacts
12noon - 7pm: mh
7pm -9pm: power compacts
moonlights all night long!

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

mh -- 9 hours(11:30a.m.-8:30 p.m.)
actinic -- 12 hours(10am-10pm)

[jasonstr8up]

mh -- 6 1/2 hours(2:30pm.-9:30p.m.)
actinic -- 10 hours(1:30pm-11:30pm)

[Boat Racer]

My actinics run from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm and my M/H run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.I have a 75 gallon with and Aquamedic 48" combo

2) T-5's Blue Actinics

2) HQI M/H 20,000k:)

[jamal-188]

Do people that run them longer notice better growth?

[pro99line]

I was running mine for 12 hours but then dropped it down to 10 hours and noticed better growth. I think everyone's tank will react differently to lighting.

[TJ]

pc's turn on @ 8:00 a.m., out @ 9:45- MH's on @ 11:00 a.m., out @ 6:30 p.m.

[shullat]

Run MH for twelve hours, anything longer and I notice that the softies start to shrink in size....

[VWD]

I run my MH for 5 hours a day.actinics for 10 hours

[suasponte2/75]

MH's only for 6 hours every day and everything's exploding in my tank. It also keeps the electricity bill manageable (CA). I do not see any difference when I run 12 hours vs 6. I've been doing it for a few years now and everything's coloring up fine and growing quickly. I used to run it for 5 hours but noticed a significant difference when I added an extra hour to the cycle. I'd suggest you adjust your light cycles until you're comfortable with your tank's color and growth rates.

I have mostly SPS's, some softies, a few LPS's and 2 clams (max and crocea). HTHs.

Minh

[Emster]

Actinics on at 10:00am off at 10:30pm
PC's on at 11:30 off at 5:00
MH on at 5:00 off at 10:00

I used to run my MH for 8 hours and then went to 7 then 6 and now I am at 5 and each time the colors have been getting better.I run 10k and I think that has alot to do with it.

[supertech3]

MH 6 hrs
t-5 actinics 3hrs

[corals b 4 bills]

I also run mine from 9-8 anything more than that I will have an algae bloom, the tank water stay hot too long, and my corals POOP! from excess light.

[Wiskey]

5.5 hours right now for MH, 11 hours for the PC atinics.

Whiskey