Lighting Hours

[_K_E_P_]

I have 2x 250W 14K Metal Halides.

Have a collection of SPS, LPS and softies

How many hours a day should they be on?

Thanks:D :D

[SCR]

I would say about 8hr. or longer.

[_K_E_P_]

I was planing 11hours. Is this too much?

[FelipeBastos]

I keep 192W of all actinic blu light on for 14 hs./day. I start it for about 1 1/2 hours, then the MH for 11 hours, then another hour and a half of just actinic.

Works well for coral's growth.

Since you have only MH, I'd say 8-11 hs/ day max. Don't forget to slowly acclimate the corals to the new light.

[RichConley]

6-8 hours. Anything longer is too much.

[dc_909]

7 hours and everything is great.

[hitsek2004]

I HAVE ONLY T5 (4 WHITE) AND 2 T8 BLUE ACTINICS.
THE T5 ARE ON FOR 12 HOURS
IS THAT TOO MUCH?

T.I.A.

[snslarison]

I vote for 8

[thor32766]

hey hitsek, thats what i have my t5's on for run time.

[whiteshark]

I agree with Rich. 6-8 hrs. max.

[_K_E_P_]

Why wouldn't you run them for 11 or so hours?
I mean I have only 2x 250W MH so if I had an 8 hour photoperiod the tank would be dark for half the day.

[whiteshark]

I didn't realize you didn't have any actinic spplementation. I would say the go for 10 hrs., but not more than that. That is a long time to have such intense lighting on. In the wild, corals probably get that intensity of light for 4 or 5 hrs or so. That is why it is good to have actinics so you can mimick the times of the day when the light is less intense.

[_K_E_P_]

I thought I read somewhere that by like 7am in the tropics the natural intensity is like way more than any MH that we have over our tanks. Not too sure if this is right thou. I'll go for 10 hours to keep the power bill down as well :D

[andyjd]

_k_E_P_

sorry to jump in, i see your in NZ, I hope to be moving there in about 18months, whats it like getting reef stuff etc?

Thanks

Andy

[xtrstangx]

I run my MH for about 6 hours a day.

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

kep....you could try to slowly experiment and see how they respond to different time lengths, then whatever that length may be stick with it(no matter if it's 4 or 12)

[pnsnowboard]

i run 2 150w halides for 11 hours a day