What are your thoughts on this lighting schedule.

[cryptics]

I was reading a book on coral farming. I am not planning to be a vendor or anything (trade most stuff) but we all want to see our corals grow and I figured I may learn something. In a small chapter he went into this 4 hours on 8 hours off lighting method. It is based on studies he says shows best coral growth is between 2 1/2 and 4 hours of the light being on. That in itself is intriguing but i instantly thought this may solve a problem i have. My tanks are in the basement which does not have air conditioning. The windows wouldn't allow me to run a vent out. I know I could run a split out but the basement is unfinished except for 20% which is my office with the tanks. Don't want to drop the cash on a split until I finish the basement. Chillers don't work because it cools the tank but the chiller heats the room up a lot which then heats the tank agin and so on down the spiral. I basically use fans controlled to come on when when the tank gets hot. I run T5's. I had LEDs which did run cooler but I didn't like the growth with them and T5's aren't that much hotter. I am thinking if I ran the lights on the frag tank from 7:30am - 11:30am then 7:30pm - 11:30pm I may get increased growth according to the studies the book noted and also have my lights off during the hottest parts of the day.

Thoughts???

 

[revsgirl]

Bump


Chasing the Dream Giver, not the dream! Tonya

 

[mike007]

You might consider leds they put off very little heat. Also dependant on what corals you have 8 hours of sunlight is the norm. If you get the right leds growth is not a concern but they are pricey. Can you not get a small P tack ac?

 

[cryptics]

Just really not a fan of LEDs Love my ATI T5 bulbs. The windows in the basement are the little 10'' ones that open from the top and only pull out a few inches. Can't fit an exhaust hose for a portable ac in them. The corals would still get 8 hours just in two 4 hour segments.


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[mainereefer]

will you have any sunrise/sunset effect, or just blast them for 4 hrs

you can get a portable ac that has 4" exhaust my mother inlaw uses one

 

[cryptics]

will you have any sunrise/sunset effect, or just blast them for 4 hrs

you can get a portable ac that has 4" exhaust my mother inlaw uses one

I have a 4 bulb T5 on the frag tank. I was planning on 1 ATI Blue + and 1 ATI True Antic on for the full 4 hours of each session. The other Blue + and ATI Coral Plus will be on for two hours each session.

Problem with the window is it pulls out from the top so the opening is like a triangle. The window kits don't cover up the whole opening.


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[mainereefer]

take the window sash out cover with plywood and hook the airconditioner to a dryer vent. paint the outside to match the house and it looks like it belongs there

dont know about the lighting schedule, I think it might stress the corals into survival mode and thats why they grow faster?
when you cut an acan it will grow new heads in a hurry to make sure it will survive, but long term.... you could try it and let us know how it works, but honestly I think over the years everyone has tried almost everything and if it was working there would be allot of vendors doing it and info on it

 

[cryptics]

Here is the article this is based off. http://www.tau.ac.il/lifesci/departments/zoology/members/benayahu/documents/93.pdf

I did a google search earlier and found a bunch of people trying this. I have read through a few. Most said they saw increased growth. None that I saw yet reported adverse effects. What i am worried about is my fish in there. People have stated they are fine but still worried I am going to drive them crazy.

Going to try this starting tomorrow. I will let you guys know how it goes.