Lighting schedule

[danenelsen]

Hello! I was wondering what to put my lights at during the day and at night. Right now I keep my lights on white during the day. However, some of the local fish stores that I go to keep their lights on blue while other tanks have white lights. Which is better.

At night, I am just turning my lights off completely. Should I just turn them dark blue? I can post pictures if necessary.

 

[Jekyl]

What lights and what is in the tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello! I was wondering what to put my lights at during the day and at night. Right now I keep my lights on white during the day. However, some of the local fish stores that I go to keep their lights on blue while other tanks have white lights. Which is better.

At night, I am just turning my lights off completely. Should I just turn them dark blue? I can post pictures if necessary.

Stores will use lights for purpose of display with white, blue to bring out coral colors. I would not copy their schedule. A sample schedule not knowing what lights you have would be :
8am - 9pm. . . . .

8a - blue
11a - white
If other colors- roll them in

7p - whites off
9-10pm - blues off

 

[dstockwell]

I run my viparspectra 25 blue 2 white

Blue on 1230 off 2140
White on 1430 off 2100

 

[danenelsen]

What lights and what is in the tank?

Just 2 clowns in the tank, I'm not sure what the lights are. I bought the tank used.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just 2 clowns in the tank, I'm not sure what the lights are. I bought the tank used.

Can you post picture under white lighting ?

 

[Jekyl]

Just 2 clowns in the tank, I'm not sure what the lights are. I bought the tank used.

Without any coral the lighting is up to your preference. They don't "need" to be on at all. Before getting coral research to make sure the light you have will work.

 

[MrGisonni]

You want to shoot for what is about 10,000 kelvin which is a blueish white. If you prefer a little more white that's Ok too, just not too yellow or orange bc that may inspire unwanted algae growth. 10k is similar to what you would see on a reef in bright sun at 50 foot of depth. As you get more into the hobby and invest in great lighting you can really trick out your LEDs. 9 to 11 hours on then off completely at night. Ramp them up and down at the beginning and end if you can.

 

[omenemo]

Those color depth charts really helped put the whole concept in perspective for me. Seeing how far the different colors penetrate the depth make it easier in my mind to understand how that has to work in a tank that’s only 22 inches.. My tank has to mimic the water column of the ocean (lightbulb). Not that I didn’t know that but it just all came together more clearly. Thank you!

 

[s70]

I’m trying to figure out the same thing. I’m running two hydra 64.
Any suggestions?

 

[shajcan876]

Stores will use lights for purpose of display with white, blue to bring out coral colors. I would not copy their schedule. A sample schedule not knowing what lights you have would be :
8am - 9pm. . . . .

8a - blue
11a - white
If other colors- roll them in

7p - whites off
9-10pm - blues off

How long can i run my lights is 6 hours good?

 

[vetteguy53081]

How long can i run my lights is 6 hours good?

10-12 is very typical

 

[shajcan876]

10-12 is very typical

dang no wonder y the always dying NO3 is 20ppm I’ve been reefing a year now only gsp seems to grow a hair