Kessil

Light schedule

itsacrispy

itsacrispy

Guest
BARcard
Hi guys,

This just hit me, but I'm wondering if my lighting schedule is too much for my tank. Here's what I have so far (I apologize for not knowing the exact type of bulbs):

11 AM: 2X 54W actinics & 2X 54W deep blue bulbs turn on.
12 PM: 2X 54W yellows, 1X 54 W purple, 1X54W white turn on.
10 PM: 2X 54W yellows, 1X 54 W purple, 1X54W white turn off.
11 PM: 2X 54W actinics & 2X 54W deep blue bulbs turn off.

So the lights are on for 12 hours total, but the main lights are on for a total of 10 hours. I just assumed that this is the accepted lighting schedule, but with some of my inhabitants bleaching, I'm beginning to think that my lights are on for too long. Please let me know what you guys think.

Thanks!
Mike
 
When my timers are actually plugged in and working, my actinics run from 3pm til midnight and my "daylights" run from 5-11. Things seem to work fine on my tank. 4x24" HOT5's over a 20g long tank.
 
I know of a couple folks who keep their lights on for the same duration as yourself, without much side effect -just a slightly electric bill :D
FWIW, back when I was using T-5's, my light scheme was:

2 p.m. 2x39 Actinics come on; moonlights off
3 p.m. 2x39 Daylight bulbs come on
11 p.m. 2x39 Daylight bulbs go off
12 A.M. 2x39 Actinics Turn off; moonlights on
So in total my lights were on for 10 hours a day.
I dig the whole dusk and dawn deal, and when the lights go on or off, it doesn't entirely scare the bejeebus out of my fish :p
 
Thanks guys. Yea, I forgot to mention that my lighting system is a Tek 8X54w T-5 setup. I don't know if it's HO or NO.

I think I'm going to reduce the lighting period to 10 hours total, hopefully that will help my GBTA to color up again. It's been getting paler and paler, even with feedings every other day. I suspect it may be getting "burned" by the lights.
 
Might take a few days off of feeding the nem too. I know too much food can stress them out. So maybe something along the lines of once a week (still a small portion of small pieces) will help out?
 
[quote author=itsacrispy link=topic=6823.msg88212#msg88212 date=1236966034]
Thanks guys. Yea, I forgot to mention that my lighting system is a Tek 8X54w T-5 setup. I don't know if it's HO or NO.
[/quote]

HO

[quote author=itsacrispy link=topic=6823.msg88212#msg88212 date=1236966034]
I suspect it may be getting "burned" by the lights.
[/quote]

I think it may be possible, but I'm not sure that is the issue. Having the lights on for a total of 10 hours versus a total 12 hours wouldn't make too much of a difference I'd imagine. Your lights are still peaking at the same intensity at both of those times. Having your lights on for 20 hours a day will probably "burn" the anemone though ;D If anything, it may have been a light shock issue, an issue with water quality, or it not acclimating not very well. But it is all speculation on my part :) Is the anemone recovering at all?
 
Thanks guys. OK, I'll hold off on feeding it while changing the lights too, see what that does. I know this is a weird question, and no related to the topic, but does anyone have a picture of a BTA that has recently died? I just want to make sure I can id it if it truly is on its way out.
 
Can you post a picture of yours Mike?
When I've seen dying anemones in LFS's, and even in some peoples tanks, I found it pretty obvious when they were on their last moments. But maybe it is just me.
 
I don't really light is an issue for the GBTA. I'm guessing something in the water.

Also according the your light schedule you only have 4 bulbs not 8.. ;D
 
Anthony, I'll try to photograph it. It's behind a rock, so the picture's going to be really bad. You can usually only see part of it's tentacles.

Phong, this GBTA was under a cave in a tank w/ lower light than mine. My bioload is relatively low too: 3 clowns, a GBTA, 3 small softies and 1 LPS; all in a 150 w/ a 40 gallon sump and skimmer. I suppose it might be something else, like heavy metals, but I'm not sure where that would come from. As for my bulbs, I looked at my post and I'm certain I listed 8 bulbs. The commas indicate separate bulbs.

Thanks guys!
Mike
 
oh sorry my bad.. ;D ..


as for lighting, if it doesn't happy where it's at (too much flow, light, doesn't like the dude next to it...), it will move. I had RBTA that was 10" directly under 250W 10K bulb. I gave my friend a clone and it was pink after 1 month. He had the same light setup.
Here is couple photos of it..

33_13_02_07_12_21_54.JPG


33_08_12_06_2_11_33.jpg
 
I would give it to someone else to see if it come back. I'm sure the bleach color look hella cool though. My wife loves the hot pink RBTA LOL ;D .. Goodluck man..
 
8:00am 54w Actinics x 2
9:30am 54 Blue Plus x 2
10:30am 250w 14k Phoenix x 2
4:00pm 250w x2 off
6:00pm blue x 2 off
7:00pm actinic x 2 off

My philosophy with lighting is to try to replicate the intensity swing you'd see in nature. I can't get the angles like the sun, nor can I dim my lights, but what I can do is minimize the "full intensity" that is often seen because the sun isn't directly overhead all the time.
 
Exactly. I can't make ans many intervals as you can, Mike (only 2 switches), but I can probably minimize the intensity by minimizing the number of hours the main light is on.
 
[quote author=itsacrispy link=topic=6823.msg88237#msg88237 date=1236969419]
I can probably minimize the intensity by minimizing the number of hours the main light is on.
[/quote]

Would minimizing the duration of the photoperiod, significantly decrease intensity, if at all? The intensity of a given light that has been on for 2 hours would be the same as a light that has been on for 4 hours? Forgive my ignorance :-
 
[quote author=A_Lee link=topic=6823.msg88241#msg88241 date=1236971157]
[quote author=itsacrispy link=topic=6823.msg88237#msg88237 date=1236969419]
I can probably minimize the intensity by minimizing the number of hours the main light is on.
[/quote]

Would minimizing the duration of the photoperiod, significantly decrease intensity, if at all? Forgive my ignorance :-/
[/quote]

Hah, I fail at logic :p. I guess it might not reduce intensity at all. I do think it would help prevent the corals from getting "burned" though, similar to how my skin reacts when I'm out in the Sun for 6 hours vs 4; I get burned, just not as burned :).
 
b1d151e49318585c1c2acbd947545bd6.png


Nope, no time in there :D

But yeah, intensity strictly speaking is how much energy is coming from something (or on something) at any given instant. However there are issues with photoinhibition which is a very real thing where a coral (or anything else that gets energy via photosynthesis) just starts turning down production of energy regardless of how much light you shine on it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top