Interesting thread on RC (reducing photoperiod)

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I just read through this thread on RC and thought I'd post it over here. I'm going to start reducing my photoperiod at least 3-4 hours and see how things go. Has anybody tried this and what were your results?:)

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1582958&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

Great conversation - another interesting side note that I was reading about the other day is that zooanthallae are inherently brown - so our corals can brown out by having too many zooanthallae - its all about balance.

So too much light can cause the zooanthallae to overproduce and brown out the coral just as well as too much food and dirty water.
 
I have recently tried this a month ago, an results are AMAZING! I had my lights running 11 hrs a day, do to the lumenarc mini I have burning corals & color lose I reduced my photoperiod too 7 hrs a day! Within a week of trying these, results were satisfying! I do suggest everyone trying this, you wont be disappointed!
 
Hmmm interesting. I've been running my lights for a total of 9 hrs for the last yr. I run my actinics 9hrs and halides 7hrs. Colors look great and growth is great. I wonder if I should reduce another hr for a couple of months just to see what will happen.
 
Hmmm interesting. I've been running my lights for a total of 9 hrs for the last yr. I run my actinics 9hrs and halides 7hrs. Colors look great and growth is great. I wonder if I should reduce another hr for a couple of months just to see what will happen.

That sounds about right...that's what I'm shooting for 9hrs or less. Sarang are you serious? Your corals look amazing!:)
 
I have recently tried this a month ago, an results are AMAZING! I had my lights running 11 hrs a day, do to the lumenarc mini I have burning corals & color lose I reduced my photoperiod too 7 hrs a day! Within a week of trying these, results were satisfying! I do suggest everyone trying this, you wont be disappointed!

I'm glad someone here has some insight on this. I also was running a 250w lumenarc mini over my solana for about 12hrs!:) My colors were ok but not where I wanted them to be. I'm going to start reducing my photoperiod as of tonight. :)
 
Ive heard of ppl having success with jus 6hrs thats what i was recommended, but i stuck wit 7 do to the fact i only run a mh no t5 bulbs to supplement a dawn to dusk affect, so an extra hour would be nice! Sarang I would leave it the way you have it, if i had actinics thats how id run it!
 
Just an experiment to see what would happen. I told you one of my coral grew like 2'' over night:lol::lol:. J/K
 
Great conversation - another interesting side note that I was reading about the other day is that zooanthallae are inherently brown - so our corals can brown out by having too many zooanthallae - its all about balance.

So too much light can cause the zooanthallae to overproduce and brown out the coral just as well as too much food and dirty water.

Yep I never had that problem my colors usually lightened up more than anything. I was running bb so my nutrients were non existent. I always thought brown corals were due to exess nutrients not a combination of the two. From what I've seen most people tend to increase their photoperiod when their corals begin browning out often leading to the same or worse results.
 
To much light and you get photoinhabition. The actual needed photo period is going to be a little different on every tank. Years ago folks tryed shortening period and some as low as 30 minutes per day. Iirc one of the experts explained that even a simple intense flash was enough. You just have to experiment a little.
 
To much light and you get photoinhabition. The actual needed photo period is going to be a little different on every tank. Years ago folks tryed shortening period and some as low as 30 minutes per day. Iirc one of the experts explained that even a simple intense flash was enough. You just have to experiment a little.

Amazing! I'll be decreasing slowly over the next week. Maybe a half hour per day.
 
I didn't read the whole thread on RC, but something that planted tank people do is run an interrupted photoperiod. Meaning they have the lights on from 8am-noon, off from noon-2pm and then back on from 2pm-6pm. It allows you to have the lights on for the same amount of hours, but it gives the tank a break basically.
 
I dropped mine from 8 hours down to 6 hours a day. I have seen some great things coming from it. I done this about 2 months ago and I wouldnt ever go back to a long photoperiod.
 
I didn't read the whole thread on RC, but something that planted tank people do is run an interrupted photoperiod. Meaning they have the lights on from 8am-noon, off from noon-2pm and then back on from 2pm-6pm. It allows you to have the lights on for the same amount of hours, but it gives the tank a break basically.

I like the idea but I was reading that it can shorten bulb life because the ballasts turn on/off so much.
 
Since my tank is recently set up, Im jumping right in. Im going for a 6hr photo period. we shall see... Im also going to start beer dosing.
 
I have recently tried this a month ago, an results are AMAZING! I had my lights running 11 hrs a day, do to the lumenarc mini I have burning corals & color lose I reduced my photoperiod too 7 hrs a day! Within a week of trying these, results were satisfying! I do suggest everyone trying this, you wont be disappointed!


Ditto, I went from ten to seven and will never go back.:)
 

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