How much time with lights on?

[hrdneglcry]

Just had a quick question. My tank has mostly GSP, some Palys, hairy mushrooms and some Xenia. I normally run the lights about 10-12 hrs per day. The corals love it but too much algae on the glass. Because of my work schedule it would be easier to run them for about 7-8 hours. Would that be enough? I incorrectly assumed that I could operate my Maxspect Ethereals remotely. Or not from home so my light corals will only get 7-8 houra today.

 

[ChiCity]

totally fine…
in fact, 8 hrs is the bare minimum one should run,
11 is max

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just had a quick question. My tank has mostly GSP, some Palys, hairy mushrooms and some Xenia. I normally run the lights about 10-12 hrs per day. The corals love it but too much algae on the glass. Because of my work schedule it would be easier to run them for about 7-8 hours. Would that be enough? I incorrectly assumed that I could operate my Maxspect Ethereals remotely. Or not from home.

You can go with 9-10 hours, reduce white intensity a little.
Is this tank at or near a window?

 

[hrdneglcry]

You can go with 9-10 hours, reduce white intensity a little.
Is this tank at or near a window?

Its a 5 feet from a doorwall which doesn't always have the drapes open. I can put them on a timer. I thought I could operate them with the app even away from home but it seems I have to be on my home wifi.

 

[Timfish]

Normally I owuld suggest 4-6 hours at normal intensity with 1-3 hour ramp up and ramp down with mas lighting period of 10 - 12 hours. But if you are happy and your corals appear to be doing well and growing/reproducing there's an alternate solution and you can leave the setting hwere they are. Algae magnets only knokck algae off the glass and it can redeposit and start regrowing pretty fast. It's a bit messy but using paper towels can remove the algae from the system so it can't redeposit and grow. For best results toss the paper towel after each swipe and use a new one to minimize algae flushing off the towel.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its a 5 feet from a doorwall which doesn't always have the drapes open. I can put them on a timer. I thought I could operate them with the app even away from home but it seems I have to be on my home wifi.

You may e getting indirect lighting contributing to this algae. Apply a piece of black construction paper to side facing door and you will get a reduction

 

[AydenLincoln]

Yes that would be fine or you can turn down the intensity! My lights are on for 8 hours a day.

 

[hrdneglcry]

Normally I owuld suggest 4-6 hours at normal intensity with 1-3 hour ramp up and ramp down with mas lighting period of 10 - 12 hours. But if you are happy and your corals appear to be doing well and growing/reproducing there's an alternate solution and you can leave the setting hwere they are. Algae magnets only knokck algae off the glass and it can redeposit and start regrowing pretty fast. It's a bit messy but using paper towels can remove the algae from the system so it can't redeposit and grow. For best results toss the paper towel after each swipe and use a new one to minimize algae flushing off the towel.

I had them on a timer. My new Maxspects give more light than my T5s. And I had them timed on too long. Like 12 hours. I thought I could turn them on with the app when away from but no such luck. They have their own timer but not on manual mode. I pick my own lighting scheme so I have to run a wall timer.