New to SW

ACEONEMG · 02-23-2008, 10:34 PM

Hi guys. I'm in the process of turing my African Cichlid 28 bowfront into a reef tank. Now my question is light cycles. I currently have a fixture with a 12000k daylight 65w and 65w true actinic bulbs which worked great for my cichlids. Do I leave both on for several hours or do I turn on the daylight bulb on for a few hours then turn on the true actinic together with the daylight then turn off the daylight for a few hours then turn off the actinic bulb? How many hours should the lights be on for? Help please...this has been driving me crazy. Thanks..

OrionGirl · 02-23-2008, 10:38 PM

True reef? On a reef, you CAN run it with the actinic providing a dawn/dusk effect. It's not required, and I've done it both ways with no obvious impact on the occupants. If the tank is in an area where it will be completely dark in the room when the lights come on, then I would go for a dawn at least, simply because the sudden change to full light can surprise some animals, stressing them a bit.

Welcome to AB!!

joephys · 02-24-2008, 09:28 AM

Its common for people to have the acetinics go on an hour or so before the daylight bulbs then an hour after, but its not required. It really depends on what you prefer. As far as time, about 10-12 hours per day, but that isn't a hard and fast rule.

Emg · 02-24-2008, 12:39 PM

Welcome to the saltie side of AB Ace !

Do post pics of the changeover process if you can....we LOVE pics.....!

forestal · 02-25-2008, 06:01 AM

people will vary the time periods for their lighting, but if doing corals, you can do the approx. time sun is out. mine is only 8 hours to save elect., but i have had lights on as long as 14 hours before

if you wanna get fancy you can vary it according to season

welcome to salt and 2nd on the pics - build threads are fun to follow

reiverix · 02-25-2008, 06:51 AM

My light cycle is as follows

2 hours actinic
8 hours all (actinic + 6000K + 10000K)
2 hours actnic

It worked for me when I kept coral and still works in my macroalgae tank. Of course there's always going to be some leeway. It's not set in stone.

You'll have a blast with SW.

sploke · 02-27-2008, 02:06 PM

My lights follow the same pattern as reiv's. I actually really like looking at my tank with just the actinics on, some of the corals really light up and its harder to tell with the daylights on as well.

Emg · 02-27-2008, 03:02 PM

I LOVE my actinics ! I just wish I could figure out how to get a pic of the tank with just those on....that actually looks like what I'm seeing !

02-23-2008, 10:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
ACEONEMG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	New to SW Hi guys. I'm in the process of turing my African Cichlid 28 bowfront into a reef tank. Now my question is light cycles. I currently have a fixture with a 12000k daylight 65w and 65w true actinic bulbs which worked great for my cichlids. Do I leave both on for several hours or do I turn on the daylight bulb on for a few hours then turn on the true actinic together with the daylight then turn off the daylight for a few hours then turn off the actinic bulb? How many hours should the lights be on for? Help please...this has been driving me crazy. Thanks..

02-23-2008, 10:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,723	True reef? On a reef, you CAN run it with the actinic providing a dawn/dusk effect. It's not required, and I've done it both ways with no obvious impact on the occupants. If the tank is in an area where it will be completely dark in the room when the lights come on, then I would go for a dawn at least, simply because the sudden change to full light can surprise some animals, stressing them a bit. Welcome to AB!! __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

02-24-2008, 12:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Emg Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northeastern Ct Posts: 3,263	Welcome to the saltie side of AB Ace ! Do post pics of the changeover process if you can....we LOVE pics.....! __________________ Blog of my tanks and critters....come check em out and don't forget the archives ! http://emgstanks.blogspot.com/ Eileen

02-25-2008, 06:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
forestal Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CT Posts: 162	people will vary the time periods for their lighting, but if doing corals, you can do the approx. time sun is out. mine is only 8 hours to save elect., but i have had lights on as long as 14 hours before if you wanna get fancy you can vary it according to season welcome to salt and 2nd on the pics - build threads are fun to follow __________________ Peace, Dan http://forestalsfish.com 120 SW Reef-mostly stonies 40 Gallon Soft Coral reef 29 Gallon fw sharks (daughter's) 40 Gallon Tang. at work - calvus/julid. 30 Gallon Planted (wisteria/moneywort/anubis)with rainbow/loach

02-25-2008, 06:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
reiverix Ach Join Date: May 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,764	My light cycle is as follows 2 hours actinic 8 hours all (actinic + 6000K + 10000K) 2 hours actnic It worked for me when I kept coral and still works in my macroalgae tank. Of course there's always going to be some leeway. It's not set in stone. You'll have a blast with SW. __________________ John R Puffer Forum

02-24-2008, 09:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,392	Its common for people to have the acetinics go on an hour or so before the daylight bulbs then an hour after, but its not required. It really depends on what you prefer. As far as time, about 10-12 hours per day, but that isn't a hard and fast rule.

02-27-2008, 02:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
sploke ladies love country boys Join Date: May 2006 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 400	My lights follow the same pattern as reiv's. I actually really like looking at my tank with just the actinics on, some of the corals really light up and its harder to tell with the daylights on as well. __________________ Current project "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

02-27-2008, 03:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Emg Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northeastern Ct Posts: 3,263	I LOVE my actinics ! I just wish I could figure out how to get a pic of the tank with just those on....that actually looks like what I'm seeing ! __________________ Blog of my tanks and critters....come check em out and don't forget the archives ! http://emgstanks.blogspot.com/ Eileen

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode