lighting cycle

[hingreef]

Just got my new light Current USA Sundial T5HO Light Fixture 36" - 156 Watts - (2x39 Watt 10K Daylight + 2x39 Watt 460nm Actinic)
Current USA Sundial T5HO Light Fixture Aquarium Light Fixtures

Any suggestions on how to set my timers?

Thanks

 

[Bifferwine]

A lot of people set the actinics to go on first, and shut off last, in order to create a sunrise/sunset effect. The total amount of time your lights are on usually varies between 8 and 12 hours a day.

So if you want to turn your actinics on at 8 am, then daylights on at 9 am, then daylights off at 7 pm, and actinics off at 8 pm, that would be a 12-hour sunrise/sunset cycle.

If you are home in the evenings, you may want to have the lights turn on later so you can enjoy your tank until you go to bed.

 

[hingreef]

thanks biff

Should the actinics be on while the daylight is on?

How many hrs are perfered for to leave the lights on
for coraline & coral growth?

 

[Bifferwine]

Yes, the actinics and daylights stay on at the same time. Anywhere between 8 and 12 hours is fine for photosynthetic critters.