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lights on for how long?Reef Talk General reef aquarium talk that has no other specific forum. |
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#1
July 24th, 2008, 05:25 AM
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lights on for how long?
Another post got me thinking. Now that I have alot of coral, how long should my lights be on? I am only starting actinics at 11am, full lights at noon, full light off around 7:30pm and lights out at 8. Enough? I'm not so sure now that I have a crocea too.
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 180g reef with 60g sump/fuge Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: one year! Other Intrests: Snowmobiling, fishing and other outdoor activities 
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#2
July 24th, 2008, 05:48 AM
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Re: lights on for how long?
I am the most inconsistent light person ever. My daily schedule is different each day so it makes if very hard. I really need to get timers.
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 46g bow front Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 8 months saltwater, 2.5 years freshwater Other Intrests: Tennis, Video games, Working out, Drinking, Movies
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#3
July 24th, 2008, 05:52 AM
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Re: lights on for how long?
9 hours (like you have) is enough for coral. Most reef tanks keep their lights on for 8 to 12 hours a day.
Alto, I finally motivated myself to buy timers last month. Only because I started to have to go out of town a lot, and didn't want to have to get someone to come over twice a day to turn on and off lights. I spent $80 at Lowe's (Dustin...), and I have no idea why I put it off for this long. Definitely well worth it.
__________________
"If we went to a Halloween party dressed as Batman and Robin, I'd go as Robin. That's how much you mean to me... " Sarah 
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 240-gallon reef with a 55-gallon sump and 35-gallon refugium Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 7 years
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#4
July 24th, 2008, 06:00 AM
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Re: lights on for how long?
Ours are on timers! Best thing ever! We run lights a total of 10 hours a day (1 hour at the beginning and end on just actinics) and 8 hours for the normal light.
When we had a really bad algae outbreak we moved down to 6 hours a day full light, but we did not have a lot of coral back then.
__________________
My website: http://www.ourfishies.com My dorky blog: http://www.ourfishies.com/saltwater_fish_blog Current Aquarium(s) Description: 50 Gallon Reef Tank Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 4 Months Other Intrests: Fish, Work and College
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#5
July 24th, 2008, 06:14 AM
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Re: lights on for how long?
My light has a remote control. Like your TV or DVD player.
DISPLAY TANK moonlights OFF at 6:00am Actinics ON at 6:30am 10K ON at 8:00am 10K OFF at 8:00pm Actinic OFF at 9:30pm Moonlights ON at 10:30pm REFUGIUM 10K ON at 8:00pm 10K OFF at 8:00am I never touch my lights. They are all set. They come on at the same time and go off at the same time every day. I don't bother to adjust them for daylight savings. Hell, I HATE daylight savings. Screws up my sleeping habits 2 times a year.  Wake up an hour earlier in the fall and an hour later in the summer? Why would I do that to my corals? I just leave the lights set where they are.If you don't have timers, get them.
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 Tiny Tank ClubYou can't culture hair algae like this!! Don't even try .......... ROOKIE!! If I wake up with marker on my face, I'll stab you. Current Aquarium(s) Description: 30g tall reef, HOB CPR refugium, 61lbs LR, 60lbs LS, 144W T5 lighting. Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1.5 yrs Other Intrests: Radio Control airplanes
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#6
July 24th, 2008, 06:32 AM
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Re: lights on for how long?
Biff what timers did you get. I bought a timer a while ago for my freshwater and figured out that it was only for 2 prong plugs and not the 3 prong.
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 46g bow front Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 8 months saltwater, 2.5 years freshwater Other Intrests: Tennis, Video games, Working out, Drinking, Movies
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#7
July 24th, 2008, 05:28 PM
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Re: lights on for how long?
HA,I got you beat Biff.I got a total of 24 bucks in my timers.Got at wally world for 12 bucks a piece.
BTW,My lights run for 12 hours a day total with 10,000Ks being on 4 hours.
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Hunt hard,shoot straight,kill clean,apologize to no one. Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75gal. reef,NE T-5s 432 watt ,CSS65 skimmer,Pro-Clear 125 wet/dry with mag5 return Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: Little over a year Other Intrests: Hunting,camping,fishing
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#8
July 24th, 2008, 08:55 PM
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Re: lights on for how long?
Well, my lights have a lot more plugs than your guys', so I need more timers. I had to buy 4 timers total, one for the fans, one for the actinics, and two for the 4 MH bulbs. My lights have 4 plugs (and I got three pronged heavy duty timers at Lowe's).
__________________
"If we went to a Halloween party dressed as Batman and Robin, I'd go as Robin. That's how much you mean to me... " Sarah
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 240-gallon reef with a 55-gallon sump and 35-gallon refugium Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 7 years
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#9
July 25th, 2008, 04:38 AM
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Re: lights on for how long?
Holly Crap RCPilot....I just read your signature line.
How do you find time for your reef with all the "HOMOSEXUAL NECROPHILIA" going on? YIKES! Current Aquarium(s) Description: 30 gallon, 2 clowns, starry blenny, purple wrasse, LPS, Softies, Polyps Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: Enough to put a nice dent in my bank account!
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#10
July 25th, 2008, 04:46 AM
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Re: lights on for how long?
8 hours for me
Actnics on at 4pm Halides on at 6 pm Halides off at 10 pm Actnics off at midnight No algae other than coralline
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I'm Dave  Keep it Simple Current Aquarium(s) Description: 55 gal reef, Hamilton dual 175w metal halide with dual actinic Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: +1 yr Other Intrests: reefin' and ridin'
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