How much light & feeding under actinic's?

Hello,

First i searched and scanned quite a few blogs looking for a decent debate on lighting times however could not find much? sorry to re hash if i missed it.

Running a 29 gal biocube with the stock fluorescents (actinic 6 months old, white 4 months old). Tanks been going for about 4 months and slowly I now have a decent mixture of fish and soft corals - mushrooms, leathers, polyps and a feather duster. 75% of the corals have been doing 'fine' - no amazing growth - but still alive. The other % 25 is the reason for the post. I am concerned my lighting approach could be improved. I currently run both lights at the same time for 8.5 hours per day. I just bought a second timer to incorporate actinic only on either side of the time period. My updated lighting period would be 1 hour actinic 8 hours both 1 hour actinic - 10 hours total.

Also while on the subject of lighting has anyone had positive/negative effects of feeding under actinic's on only?

Any input is much appreciated

Cheers,

 

Hi Brian,

I run my Actinic bulbs 12 hours a day and my MH’s (your white) for 9 hours a day – actinics on for 1.5 hours before MH’s and then 1.5 hours after them.

I am very particular about my lighting and I change my bulbs every 6 months, most let them go 12.

As for feeding, whatever works for you. When I feed (which is somewhat rare) I like to do it during bright light so the tank can be seen.