How long does everyone keep their lights on and why?

Dawn/Dusk are just the blue actinics, or moonlights for example. Daylights are your POWERHOUSE t-5, or metal halides..etc.

 

Actinics 13.5 hrs
rest 11 hours

 

I keep one 24w bulb and my fuge lights on for 12 hours, and light up another 24w bulb for about 10 hours....

 

In my fish only tank I have daylight bulbs only, and I leave them on for about 11 hours a day and I have practically no algae. Dunno why!

 

Actinics run 12 hours 10am-10pm
Halids run 8 hours 12pm-8pm
Refugium runs 12 hours opposite tank’s Actinics 10pm-10am
Moon light click on 15 minutes before actinics go out so its never black

As for Hair Algae – I’ll concur with Robman, it’s unfortunate and difficult to avoid in a new tank. You need to identify the source and resolve it, at 2.5 months your lights are not the issue. As mentioned above, phosphates and nitrates need to be explored – culprits are generally over feeding and tap water. Sometimes its crap salt mixes and even an inadequate cleaning crew (uneaten food, detritus left on the sand).

 

I have my dawn to dusk on for 12 hours & full light for 9.

 

Thanks much. GFO running and Skimmer... learning patience...

M

 

My actinics are on for 12 hours, my halides are only on for 6 hours. I have 192 w of actinics PC and 500w of 14k.

My moon lights are on for only 2 hours before and after actinics.

One important thing to keep in mind is that you can actually give too much light. It is hard to replicate the Sun on a reef at noon, but the Sun does not shine the same for 12 hours. Research has shown corals only absorb so much a day. And as with all living things, down time is important. There are some that only run their halides for 4 hours, and their tanks are thriving.

So more is not always better. Also, corals need dark to come out at night and feed. I thought my moon lights were no big deal, till I turned them off. All my corals come out after lights out and feed all night. So I have found with my tank that 6 hours of total darkness has been very beneficial.

 

i have my actinics come on at 12pm, daylights come on at 1pm, daylights go off at 9pm actinics go off at 10pm this is for a 4x39 t5 ho tek

and my tank is also next to a window so they get additional light from the natural sun light

 

so your corals stay out at night? mine always close