150W HQI Metal Halide - How many hours a day ?

[Aseidman]

I am running a 150 Watt Double ended HQI Metal halide system. My reef is a 30 gallon extra high. How many hours a day should I run them ? I am new to MH, so I am not sure.

I keep lots of softies and some LPS. I plan to add SPS soon.

So.. how many hours do you recommend a say ?

[dots]

I was running mine upwards of 11hrs a day.

Start lower and raise one hour every week until you get the best coloration and growth without bleaching

[hotrod122]

im running mine about 12 hours a day currently...

[sarduci]

12 hours a day for mine.....

If you are asking how to go from something else to MH, start at 2 hours, then 3 hours, then 4 hours, etc. to where you get to whatever you want to stop at.

My zoos at the bottom of my 90 love the light. The zoos in the middle of my tank love the light. The zoos at the top of the tank love the light too.

Your soft corals may not like the bright light at all though, but LPS's will be fine.

[Aseidman]

i started at 3hours, went to 4 then six and now 8. i was just wonderinf here to stop. i sounds like 11 to 12 hours a day.

thanks
allen