Benny503 Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 24" Coralife Lunar Aqualights Compact Fluorescent Strip Lights http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12109&rel=1 (True Actinic 65W, 12000K Daylight 65W, 2 Blue Moon LEDs) Coralife Power Center Single Digital http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+9685+11379&pcatid=11379 Anyhow, my question is how long should I light my tank? Currently I setup daylight and Actinic on at the same from 9AM-11PM (yes, I woke up early and sleep late). From 11PM to 9AM the lunar LED on at all the time. I just need to know how many hours can I leave my fish tank on? I would like to achieve a somewhat "Dusk/Dawn", I think I remember something from dsoz saying his tank had actinic on 1 hour before the daylight anh stay 1 hour after the daylight off. With the equipments I am having right now it's posible to have it setup like that? Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny503 Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 Mods and admin, I posted this topic in the wrong box. Please help me move this topic to "Equipment" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Lights on too long leads to algae problems. You may want to cut back your photoperiod. You need to decide when you like to look at your tank the most. I prefer at night after a long day at work, so my lights come on about noon, then I leave them on until about 9:00. I was not the one that has actinic on first and last, but it is a common idea. I have all my lights on the same timer, and they all come on at once. Someday I may get a second timer and have them on/off at staggered times. I would cut back your photoperiod to 8-10 hours. Moonlights can be on 24/7. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny503 Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 Thanks Dsoz, I will cut back my photo hours. May be from 5PM to 11:PM? So it can help algea issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 have the actinics come on for 8-10 hrs a day and the daylights for 6-8. either way get 2 timers and have actinics on 1 hour before daylights (dawn effect) and then on for an hour after (dusk effect) and like dsoz said keep the moonlights on all the time. it wont hurt anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny503 Posted July 18, 2008 Author Share Posted July 18, 2008 Yup, I am getting a cheap timer for my day tank... once my actinics on for 1 hour, then the daylight will be on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barelycuda Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I run my actinics from 11am to 9pm, my flourescents from noon to 8pm, and my halides from 1pm to 7:30ish. It gives me the full daylight effect. Granted it takes 3 timers but I like it. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilmca Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 I run actinics vho's from 1:00 to 1:30 and then the 10,000k vho's come on at 1:30 till 4 and then MH are on from 4 to 10 while the vho's go off. Both actinic and 10,000k vho's come on at 10 and MH go off, followed by the 10,000k at 11 and then the actinics at 11:30. I have to have 3 timers but I too like the dusk to dawn effect. I run 14,000k MH so I don't need to run actinic vho's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.