lights on

[Marty1971]

Question you all.

Tanks is up with live rock in it. Have MH and T5's combo on tank (169 gallon plus 50 gallon sump). Nothing but rock. Have skimmer and 2 M40's. How much and should I turn on the lights a day? Was thinking maybe 4 or less hours a day. What does everyone think? If you feel the light should be on, please elaborate why and if they should be off, elaborate.

Thanks.

 

[returnofsid]

I think it's good to go ahead and start some type of light cycle, now. Otherwise, if you wait until later, and come on with a full light cycle, it could cause some major algae problems. Ramping it up slowly, as you suggest, with a 4 hour photo period, sounds like a great plan. This will also give your live rock light, which will start the process of growing coralline algae, GOOD ALGAE.

 

[user 26995]

What I did when I set up my tanks, is I ran the lighting periods from the very begining, just as I do now with lifestock in the tank. I ran actinics 11 hours a day and daylights, whether t5s or mh's, 6-7 hours a day. I dont know for sure, but I would think that lighting is going to help the system go thru its cycles, including any algae cycles it needs to go thru. All the life in the rocks is going to need a lighting period. The good coraline algae needs light. I think a regular lighting period will help establish the system faster.

 

[akunochi]

I would begin running your normal lighting cycle.

 

[Krish]

I ran my normal light cycle at start up just to keep whatever required light in my rock to continue to grow. Good or bad didn't matter as you can eliminate the bad over time (eg nuisance algae) but I was more concerned with not losing the good stuff.

Just my personal opinion. You really can go any way with this.


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[Marty1971]

awesome advice, sorry been away for a bit. Another issue is tempature, what kind of things do you suggest to keep my water at the right tempature without a chiller?

 

[Skimmy]

small fans blowing on your tank and sump should control a fair amount of heat,
as well as doing a reverse light cycle that starts at night and ends in the morning.

 

[user 26995]

I shortened they light cycle on mine and run two room fans on it 24/7. It has gotten up to 80 degrees for a couple hours a day, so its not too bad. I also invested in a room airconditioner when it gets really hot out.

 

[Marty1971]

The heat is coming mostly from 2 MH's 250 W bulbs and not the sun, well, I know it will get hot when the weather gets hot but since we are in WA that is mostly not the problem with the exception of a few months a year. I plan on purchasing some small fans that will be in the hood to put cool air in and also pull warm air out. I have a small fan in the sump area to circulate it around and not get stale air. I am also reducing the light cycle from like 11 hours to 9 hours a day.

 

[akunochi]

Open your hood open your canopy add frizen bottles of water to the sump get some clip on fans for the sump. All effective.