For how many hours do you ...

[renato120]

How long do you keep your lights on for?
10 hours total
Im thinking on add another hour
I run my from 10am to 8pm

 

[Chris-tico]

9 hours here

 

[kschweer]

Mine run about 8.5 hrs. 2:45pm to 11:15 pm.

 

[Daytonareefing]

I run mine 8am to 8 pm.

 

[mikey_p]

10 hrs for my blues and 8 for my whites

 

[LetItReef]

7:30a-9:00p

 

[Lynn52]

Mine run from 11AM to 10 PM gradual ramp up and down. 5 hours at max intensity.

 

[jeffp1]

Blues 12 hrs. White 10 hrs.

 

[Velocity]

How long do you keep your lights on for?
10 hours total
Im thinking on add another hour
I run my from 10am to 8pm

I run my blues from 8am to 9Pm and my whites 10am to 8:30 - moonlights all night

am running 2 175 watt full spectrum leds dimmers

 

[renato120]

Interesting.... Lots of 12 hours here. I like that

 

[reefbeard]

10am-10pm. Peak hours run 2pm-6pm.

 

[dbl]

Sunrise at 7:30a and sunset at 10:30p. Four hour ramp up/down on either end.

 

[myboxofwater]

9 hours from 12:45 - 9:45

 

[hybridazn]

13 hours total. Reefbrite xho blues from 1pm-2am then halides on from 6pm-12am

 

[Reefhunter007]

11hr

 

[AdamNC]

I think it also depends on the type of lights you have. With LEDs you have the ability to ramp up/down if you have a controller. So where do we consider the amount of time? From the time it comes on or the peak hours? Here's my setup I've been using for about a year.

Maxspect R420R 160w 16k

TP1 08:00 Ch1 0% Ch2 0%
TP2 09:30 Ch1 40% Ch2 65%
TP3 11:30 Ch1 65% Ch2 90%
TP4 18:30 Ch1 65% Ch2 90%
TP5 20:30 Ch1 40% Ch2 65%
TP6 22:00 Ch1 0% Ch2 0%

 

[certain_code]

I think it also depends on the type of lights you have. With LEDs you have the ability to ramp up/down if you have a controller. So where do we consider the amount of time? From the time it comes on or the peak hours? Here's my setup I've been using for about a year.

Maxspect R420R 160w 16k

TP1 08:00 Ch1 0% Ch2 0%
TP2 09:30 Ch1 40% Ch2 65%
TP3 11:30 Ch1 65% Ch2 90%
TP4 18:30 Ch1 65% Ch2 90%
TP5 20:30 Ch1 40% Ch2 65%
TP6 22:00 Ch1 0% Ch2 0%

Yup, perfect point. Although most of your light will come during those peak hours, the supplemental light prior and after can also really effect coral colors and things like PH (leading to Cal and Alk changes) .

Personally, I went from toying constantly with DIY LEDs to just getting a reliable and we'll tested T5 fixture (ati) and never looked back. Right now I am running them for 10 hours with 2 hours being only the blues. Thinking about decreasing the full on hours and just having them all blues for longer though.

Ultimately, I feel like as long as you keep your bioload high you can run your lights longer within reason. The lighter your bioload the less you should probably run your lights. That, and of course taking it slow when increasing your light on time.

 

[Gamma]

White LED across rear and across front run from 8am to 8pm
T5 actinic & 10K run 10am to 6pm across middle
Blue LED across rear and across front run 8pm to midnight

Please let me know suggestions since I am new to this...

 

[vetteguy53081]

Mine runs on various cycles from 7a thru 7am using apex and reefkeeper. Starts with blue stunners and ends with moonlights

 

[SaltyBiker]

I have an SPS dominate 65g with a reef breeder style box light and 2 Ecoxotic Panorama pro strips, one on each side of the box. Box light is set to 90% blue and 40% white. My schedule goes like this and I've had great growth and overall coral happiness as far as light goes.

5pm - blues from box on
6pm - strip lights on
7pm - whites from box on (all lights now on)
11pm - whites on box off
12am - strip lights off
1am - blues from box off (all lights in display off)

8 hours total photo period with 4 hours full strength.