How many hours a day should metal halides be on?

[tonytooth]

This includes four VHO actinics that come on an hour before and go off an hour after the halides.

 

[Palmetto]

I run MH 10 hrs, Actinic 12 Hrs.

 

[Tybond]

Same here.

Actinics on 1 hour before MH and continued on 1 hour after with MH running for 10 hours

2x250w MH and 4x55w PC on a 55g

I do get a little more algea in the summer months when its warmer so I have tried to drop to 10 hours in the summer but can't really say I noticed a big difference doing it so 12 hours is where it stays.

hth
ty

 

[MarkO1]

FWIW, I run my MH for 9 hours and my actinics/fluorescents for 13.5 hrs.
_________________
Bushmaster 2000

 

[Len]

I've got my lights timed like Mark's.

 

[newkie]

I recently asked Borneman about this.. he recommended about 10 hrs.

 

[Anonymous]

I run my MH's (no actinics or PC's) for 9 hours with no problems. SPS, LPS and clams all show good growth.
Jim

 

[Anonymous]

i ran halides only for 8-9 hrs w/no problems, after eliminating actinics and a 12 hr halide photoperiod-all micro algae disappeared, and the corals did great.

 

[CraigLampe]

I run 2 400W metal halides for 10hrs / day but they turn ON/OFF sequentially... Then I have VHO Actinics which come on 1 hr before and go off 1 hr after:

FANS: OFF OFF ---------------------------------------------------------- OFF OFF
Actinic: OFF OFF OFF ---------------------------------------------- OFF OFF OFF
MH 1: OFF OFF OFF OFFOFF ----------------------- OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
MH 2: OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFFOFF ----------------------- OFF OFF OFF

So there is a "morning" "noon" "evening" kind of thing... works well and I think my animals appreciate the fact that the Metal Halides don't go from NOON (full light) to MIDNIGHT (no light) in 1 second

There is about 2 hr separation between metal halides, though I think this should be more... I think maybe "noon" (full light) should only last about 3-4 hrs and then morning and evening (1 MH only) can last 6-7 hrs

Although for those animals directly under one of the metal halides, it is almost ABSOLUTE ON/OFF when that one does...

 

[CraigLampe]

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