Help with lighting

[showjumper_girl2002]

Hello! I just set up my new saltwater aquarium last night! Super excited I got the set up off of craigslist and it came with a Marineland light. How should I set up the light cycle for the white and blue lights? My plan is to make it a reef tank but I won't be getting any corals until the tank is established and I can afford a more coral suitable light fixture. I will be adding my first fish tomorrow. The tank is 70 gallons and is about 28 in deep. 3 lights are out, not sure if that matters or not

 

[Pistondog]

Hello! I just set up my new saltwater aquarium last night! Super excited I got the set up off of craigslist and it came with a Marineland light. How should I set up the light cycle for the white and blue lights? My plan is to make it a reef tank but I won't be getting any corals until the tank is established and I can afford a more coral suitable light fixture. I will be adding my first fish tomorrow. The tank is 70 gallons and is about 28 in deep. 3 lights are out, not sure if that matters or not

Looks great, for fish it doesnt make much difference, but to minimize algae, not on for more than 10 hours, if that.

Nice looking aquascape. What fish are you getting? They may influence your coral choices later.

 

[Fishurama]

If the lights are out, i would personally get a return and wait on the fish. While the 3 now might not matter too much, it gives me pause on the quality of the rest.
For lighting, most people have between 8-12 hour schedules.
I run my lights from 7am to 9pm. My ramp up blues start at 7am to 8am, whites go on until 5:30pm then ramp down to moonlight blues at 6pm to 9pm, when lights all go off.

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

Looks great, for fish it doesnt make much difference, but to minimize algae, not on for more than 10 hours, if that.

Nice looking aquascape. What fish are you getting? They may influence your coral choices later.

Thank you! Starting with a pair of clowns. Only going to be adding reef friendly fish so I can add coral later on down the road