Jestersix

Is 10 hours of MH light ideal?

99sf

99sf

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I have a 29 gallon display tank with a 150 watt DE metal halide Sunpod light system with an Ushio bulb that is about 6 months old. I currently have the light timer set for 10 hours per day. In your opinion and experience, is this lighting period too long?
 
Ideal? I and many other prefer less. I do 6-7 myself.
 
My post answered the question of
"I currently have the light timer set for 10 hours per day. In your opinion and experience, is this lighting period too long?"

If there was any confusion.
 
I like Gresh ran 6-7. Light came on around current sunset ( 5-6) and off around 12-1am (I varied the schedule a bit over time)
 
I prefer 10 hours as it's closer to a natural tropical day cycle but a more important issue is how well the corals are able to use the light they're given. That depends on a lot of other stuff like DO availabilty which can be flow related and a slew of chemical parameters that have to be in range. I think 6 hours can work (G's done it)and I think 12 hours can work(I've done it).
 
You feel 8 hours more replicates the wild? The wild PAR levels increase - hold - then decrease. Can't do that without dimming you halide. I suspect if you looked at the curve, 6 hours peak is closer to the wild (IIRC). My actinics stay on for 10 hours.
 
iani said:
My post answered the question of
"I currently have the light timer set for 10 hours per day. In your opinion and experience, is this lighting period too long?"

If there was any confusion.
Click to expand...

Nope. I was replying to the thread title :)
 
Thank you all for the rapid helpful feedback! I apologize that the topic header had the wrong amount of hours (8--typo error, now corrected). It seems like the consensus is that 10 hours (my current cycle) is too much for a tank primarily filled with LPS coral. The only SPS I have are monti caps and an encrusting monti. I will scale back to 7 hours and see how the corals respond. The flow is provided by a small Quiet One return pump and two K1s. I have a small amount of chaeto in the refugium.
 
If it works, don't change it. I've run 5 on some tanks and it worked just fine.
 
I wish the Sunpod had T5 actinic supplements! My timer is now set from 9:30 until 4:30, for peak enjoyment at my office.
 
215gal
5.5hrs 2x250w metal halide on a light mover
10hrs 2x54w of actinics
24 hrs little LED moonlights
fuge 16 hrs 26w pc
 
Anthony, I'm interested in following your tank's reaction, since we're both cutting back on our photoperiod at the same time.
 
Arnold, do you think the small Coralife moonlight LEDs have much of an effect on your tank? I haven't been using mine because the plugs would take up too much room on the powerstrip, but I could add another powerstrip if they would be beneficial.
 
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