Keep blues on at night or keep tank dark

[johnsamm7]

Was trying to see what everyone does or thinks about leaving just the low level blues on at night time or just giving the tank a break and keeping the lights completely off thanks for he input

 

[scubadude11888]

I have the same question

 

[Robink]

Let tank be dark... Everyone needs sleep. I like to run moonlight til 10 or 11 pm but that's it. Currently my schedule shuts everything off at 8pm.

 

[johnsamm7]

I've been keeping it dark my light program for the schedule is stupid how you can't have them go from blues to off quite annoying

 

[erinmegan85]

I think its kind of a matter of personal preference. Both of my tanks keep the moonlights on all night, and my fish seem to sleep fine. I keep them on because it's gives ambient light in the house if I get up in the middle of night. Except when it's a new moon since they're on the moon cycle. Haha. I'm interested to see if anyone else keeps theirs on all night as well.

 

[Reeferdood]

Off...

 

[Mike_J]

My blues run until about 9:30pm and then it's lights out until about 6:30 when the "sun" rises again

 

[n2585722]

I use moon lights. They are on cycle with the moon. I have had no issues doing this.

 

[teamlounge]

I would turn them off. No blues on at night in the wild.

 

[Jay_M]

I would also recommend turning the lights off at night but I will say that I read something interesting just the other day about moonlights or low light on at night decreases the chances of fish getting spooked and jumping out of the tank. If something bumps them in total darkness and they dart the wrong direction, like up, you may be minus a fish.. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but deff made me go hmmmmm.

 

[angengland]

I use moon lights. They are on cycle with the moon. I have had no issues doing this.

So during a full moon they are brighter and during a new moon they are completely off?

 

[trido]

So during a full moon they are brighter and during a new moon they are completely off?

I also have my moonlights set to match the lunar phase via APEX.
Yes, they increase and decrease with the intensity of the lunar phase. Sometimes they are on in the late afternoon or late morning. If the moon is out, the lights are on. Regardless of the time of day..

 

[Husker]

I had some blues on all night just for viewing (I have a 2 year old and a 6 month old, so I am up in the middle of the night often). Once I switched to T5/LED combo, I started switching off the LEDs for about 12 hours a night. I came down with a flashlight a few times to find ridiculous polyp extension that i never had before. I am thinking that pitch black period is important for coral feeding (and potentially growth).

 

[skyjacker07]

Mine go off at 9:30 and no light til 6:30, it has helped with my coral growth, and keeps algae at bay, I can't adjust intensity on my lights, so I have to adjust photo period.

 

[Waboss]

I keep mine on, but on the lunar cycle. So brightness varies from about 4% to 0 depending on the phase of the moon.

 

[120reefkeeper]

All lights totally out at 10:30pm start back up at 6am

 

[RONBATTLE]

I HAVE DONE BOTH AND FOR ME, IT SEEMS TO BE BETTER WITH A DARK PERIOD...

 

[johnsamm7]

Awesome yea I'll keep it on black out still thank you for the responses

 

[Brian Treadwell]

I run moon lights for 6 hours after sunset and then couple dark until sunrise next , I feed my corals during the moonlight hours.

 

[wkscott]

Not exactly sure how blue lights effect our tanks when our critters are trying to sleep, but studies show that at sleep time, blue lights NEGATIVELY effect humans and other primates.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/q-a-why-is-blue-light-before-bedtime-bad-for-sleep/

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.livescience.com/53874-blue-light-sleep.html

My 90g reef is in my bedroom so definitely it's lights out!