Is such an unconventional lighting schedule viable?

[Breadbox]

So this is my lighting schedule for the fluval flex 32.5G for about 4 months now. As you can see, this is made so that the lights are on before and after work so that I can enjoy my tank as much as possible.

However, is such a lighting schedule considered wildly unstable by the corals and stunt their growth? I've noticed that while the corals do alright, none of them grows, not even the gsp seem interested in growing.

If it is stunting the corals, what could be done while keeping the biperiod nature of the schedule?(as what would be the point if I cannot look at it when I want to).

Hoping for some suggestions here.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I try to simulate nature as close as I can. It’s worked. Don’t recall any research on this.

 

[Hydrored]

I guess I don’t understand even for your viewing pleasure why you would create a schedule like that. Why not just start the photo period later in the day like noon - midnight?

These are animals not a painting

The growth, coloration, and health of the animals we are trying to keep trumps all else.

Try sticking to a schedule that is more natural and see how the corals respond

 

[Breadbox]

I guess I don’t understand even for your viewing pleasure why you would create a schedule like that. Why not just start the photo period later in the day like noon - midnight?

These are animals not a painting

The growth, coloration, and health of the animals we are trying to keep trumps all else.

Try sticking to a schedule that is more natural and see how the corals respond

The dip in the middle is suppose to keep the temperature now at noon.

 

[oreo54]

"Punctated" light schedules have a following all of their own.
You like 5 hr. is an extreme example.

All sorts of things "could" get affected including biorhythms since you could be creating 2 days out of one.
What also may matter is the ambient environment as well.

As to nature you have clouds, periods of storms, suns procession, waves, silting, ect.. all making the light environment unstable.
As an EXPERIMENT you could try, instead of complete off just running like 25% during your dark time.
Yea longer photoperiod but it may just stabilize and define a "day" better preventing any "resetting" of their internal clocks.

Running your viewing hours a tad "darker" will balance out overall par or as they say DLI.



Technically you are already in "experimental" territory.
Also there could be other factors besides light influencing their growth.

Not sure how "accurate" their research is but an example of "common useage"

Light intensity & photoperiod relationship - Red Sea

Corals need light, but there’s only so much they can take. Let's dive into light vs. dark period, What’s safe and what’s not?

www.redseafish.com

Our research has shown that to get optimal coral growth and coloration, light and dark periods should be about the same. Also, the intensity and photoperiod are inversely proportional, which means if one goes up, the other must come down and vice-versa.

Now for academia on ONE species.. seems 16hr photoperiod has only a minor impart on growth compared to 12 hr.

(PDF) Light intensity, photoperiod duration, daily light flux and coral growth of Galaxea fascicularis in an aquarium setting: A matter of photons?

PDF | Light is one of the most important abiotic factors influencing the (skeletal) growth of scleractinian corals. Light stimulates coral growth by the... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

www.researchgate.net

Again, not everything is light related..