How long to have lights on for

[stephen.clarke.777]

How long should I be lighting my reef tank

 

[Baby Ray]

I run about 11 or 12 hours

 

[stephen.clarke.777]

Is that full spectrum or blues etc

 

[Baby Ray]

I do not have a light controller and I have not programed my light but I typically run blues for an hour or two in the morning and at dusk. I run all the lights in-between. I have T5 fixture with 3 blue bulbs and 1 white

 

[stephen.clarke.777]

Ok I have led lights are they as good as t5

 

[bigroost]

I am running the same light as you. I would assume the brightness percentage will have an impact on your photo period, but right now I have my light about 18" above the tank(40 breeder) with 45%b 20%w. Blue runs 12:00pm to 10:00pm, that was cut down to after about six months from 10:00am to 10:00pm, same drop on the white but now I run it from 3:30pm to 7:30pm. I may try taking another 30 mins off soon. At 12 hours my corals stayed alive but didn't grow, at 10 hours I am starting to see some growth. I don't claim to know why but that has been my experience. Those settings give me 300 par at the highest point in my rockwork at 5 or so inches deep.

 

[stephen.clarke.777]

I thought I read that it's the whites that give corals the growth

 

[Baby Ray]

Ok I have led lights are they as good as t5

I personally am fine with either LEDs or T5.
This is what I think about them
1. T5s are much better when it comes to growth but the colors aren't as good as with leds, but the colors still look really good anyways. You also have to replace the bulbs every 6 to 8 months
2. The growth isn't as much but the colors are nicer. Also, leds don't get as hot witch help with keeping constant temperatures. Also, you can control most of them through a computer to make the sunrise and sunset more realistic (not all can do this but a lot). T5s however, you can just turn 2 bulbs on at a time so there is really only half one and all the way on (if your fixture has 4 bulbs). One great thing about LEDs is that they last for years without having to replace bulbs

How this helps even though it is kind of confusing

 

[FishOfHex]

How long should I be lighting my reef tank

I use a ramping schedule but its about 12.5 blues and 10.5 whites.