lighting ????

[debbie 257]

hi im having trouble with lighting not what lights but for how long we have 2 actinic a white and halide 14000 k how is the best way to set the times for them coming on and off over a time span of 12 - 14 hours we have been told we dont need the white and that the actinic should go off half hour after the halide comes on and come on only half hour before the halide goes off can some one tell how the best way is to set my lights it seem obvious to set the actinics 2 hours before and half hour during the 8 hours of halide and the same at night is this right thanks in advance for any reply

 

[Len]

It's not an exact science, but most people turn on their actinics first. The way I have mine set up is the actinics come on one hour before the halides and turn off one hour after. The actinics are on 14 hours whereas the halides are on for only 12.

 

[Anonymous]

Adding to what Len said, I sometimes leave my actinics on for an extended period of time after the halides go off. Usually it's because I'm up late, and don't want the room completely dark, and want to be able to see the tank still.
All my lights turn on at the same time though.

Jim

 

[debbie 257]

thank you for the quick reply guys the reason i asked is because the guy at the lfs who we have got to know advised us not to run the actinics while the halide is on only for a half hour period while the halide warmed up he claims the halide provides all the light our corals need admittedly we have been making a mistake and using a white flourecent light set to come on 1 hour before the halide and 1 hour after we did this to stretch the hours of light time if you like as we only run the halide for 8 hours and with the white and actinic it totalled light time to 12 hours which i believe the tank needs to ward off nuisence algae thanks again for the replies best change my timers back lol

 

[ricky1414]

My lighting times:
10:30am- Actinics on
11:30am- Halide on
8:30pm - Halides off
9:30pm - Actinics of

 

[Tackett]

wow...thats hard to read, punctuation is a good thing my friend dont be scared.
My lights are set up like Rick's also.

 

[Anonymous]

That is one large run on sentence debbie :wink: I like how Ricky has his going...Speaking of which, Could you post a pic of your set up..I have a PFO pendant and want to somehow incorporate my PCs into it(or on the outside of the pendant) I just want to see what your setup is like