FOWLR Lighting

[Curly11]

My fish tank room is complete and my 300 gallon inwall is almost ready for livestock (need to add a chiller). I have three XR30 Pros running on the Apex system. I am trying to customize a lighting schedule for the tank. I usually think that the white/cool white will look the best for the fish, but I am not sure how many hours, what intensity, and how much "moonlight" should be run for the tank.

I think it can be simple as on/off, but I think it would be cool to simulate the sunrise/sunset and moonlight as the tank is in the living room and has lots of eyes on it all day.

I also would like to know if I should be paying attention to other color spectrums for health of the fish/tank.

Thank you to all that contribute to the site. It has been tremendously helpful in getting me off the ground.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

If its a fish only tank, then the light spectrum/duration makes no difference to the fish at all, its completely for your viewing pleasure, so do what suits you best. Whatever you do, the fish will adapt and get used to it.

 

[GT3000XX]

I use 4 ai prime 16hd lights. I run the white a little stronger than the rest. It really is more what you like. I also ramp up and down 1/2 hour to simulate sunrise and sunset. I run them from 12-10 and bump up the white at 6 to simulate peak sun. I feel anything that can be done to give the fish a similar environment they came from helps them adjust to captivity. I let my tank go dark after the lights go out. Also on another note. Do you plan on running a UV sterilizer?

 

[Curly11]

I appreciate the replies. Yes I do have a UV on the tank as well.

 

[Devaji]

while 100% not needed, i am also a fan of ramp up /down just feels more natural.
easy to do with today's tech. so why not. as far as intensity goes i would not go to much to combat alage in the tank. but if you run an ATS or fuge you generally want your display tank less intest that that.

basically you want to alage to grow in your fuge and not in the display tank. if you see algae in your DT lower the intensity or hours light is on and deal with the po4/no3 in the tank.
like all things in life its a balance.
but the good thing about a fish only is they don't even need light. it's more for us then them.

 

[Phlynamjax]

Strong light will just grow algae in FO FYI.

 

[X-37B]

If your not trying to grow corals then you will be fine with the radions running at reduced output. Start around 50% or less.
One hour ramp up/down 6-8 hrs peak 8-10 total.
I do not run moonlight on my acro systems but it wont hurt any system.

 

[Curly11]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Definitely want to find the balance of showing off the fish and keeping the algae at bay. I appreciate everyone taking the time to comment.

 

[jda]

I just have a honeywell shop light over my current FOWLR. This is a backup for my main reef, so there is 3x Radiums over it too just sitting there. I turn it on/off with a light timer and it grows coralline on the front glass WAY too fast and there is no hair or ulgy algae.

Any light can grow ugly algae if you have the parameters for it, and no consumers. The great thing about FOWLR is that you have access to fish that will eat algae since you don't care about them eating coral. I have a queen angelfish that will devour any algae - and I mean any - but it also likes to eat polyps.

The bottom line is that you can do whatever you want.