how long should I keep lights on for reef tank?
 

I just got the rfk1 and wanted to set it up for how long to keep my lights on for. I have a 6 bulb t5 fixture with sps, zoas, and lps. How long should I keep the lights on for? Right now, I turn my actinics on at 1030am and off at 7pm. the daylights turn on at 11am and off at 630pm.

my main lights are on for 8hrs a day. my actinics are on for an hour each before and after their on/off.

I have LEDs and can keep them on to 10 hours from actinic to high noon from 1-8 pm, I know its overkill but my sps really dont mind it.

I have my main lights on from 11pm to 7pm and actinics on for half an hr before and after. Should I change the actinics to an hr or extend the hours of my main lights or am I fine with this?

Wow only 3 hours of darkness.

haha I meant 11AM to 7PM.

I run my 2 blues from 10:30-9:30 and my main lights from 11:30-8:30

I have an 8 bulb over a mixed reef, mostly LPS, Zs and Ps, 90 GAL. My actinics turn on at 10:45AM and shut off at 10:15PM. Daylights come on at 12:30PM and shut off at 8:15PM.

So am I okay with my time or should extend it?

Imo I think you should extend your actinics maybe a little

Do you think an hour before and after the main daylights is enough instead of the 30 mins or should I do it longer?

That's good I would say. If you can maybe a little longer. I know people who do the actinics for like 3 hours before turning the daylights on. I guess at the end of the day it's preferance. . .

I will start with an hour before and after daylights and work my way from there. Thanks.

yes I agree, actinics are about two hours for me, one hour before and after main lights.