Is a consistent light cycle a must?

For an example, you get up at 6, the fish get up at 6. You come home late, and your fish go to bed at 12. You do the same 2 days in a row, then sleep in, and you get a really confused fish, lol

 

I really do not think fish care one way or another, assuming your lighting isn't on a crazy schedule (2 hours one day 20 the next). Ambient light is fine and they will generally swim/sleep when they want. Most people only have lights in a FOWLR tank just so you can see it. If I went on vacation and only had fish, I may not worry about turning the light on when I am gone.

For corals, as long as you have your tank lights on for roughly the same amount of time each day, you will be fine. I personally don't think the actual time of day is all that important either.

A timer is not at all necessarily, but it is nice as I don't have to keep unplugging (an plugging back in) my lights. It just simplifies the process for us lazy people.

 

And to answer your question more directly, Cosmo, it may help to some degree, but it's really hard to tell without trying. Coral Restoration Foundation recently posted an image on their FB page about the successful spawning of staghorn corals in the organization's captive tanks, while ironically, having less luck in the open waters of Key Largo.

I have pondered the idea with adjusting temp. swings (of a few degrees) to mimic warmer temperatures in the ocean vs. the cooler months. There has been some research done in this for captive reefkeeping, though I do not recall the results. This would best be carried out via a controller so you can closely monitor the temp. within safe ranges.

 

One result was that by allowing temp swings, the corals became more "immune" to temp swings. IOW, the more constant you keep your temp, the greater the risk becomes that your corals may bleach during a power failure or heater malfunction.

As for the variable lighting, I'd be a bit concerned about coral health. Similar to light-acclimating them to strong lighting, if you leave it on too long, the corals may bleach.

 

Incorrect. The sun in many spots where these fish/corals do come from range from 13-15 hours sunlight a day from sunrise to sunset.

 

True, but it's not high-noon the entire day.

 

Heck even up here in Hogtown during the summer we get close to 15 of daylight. I work shift work so ive always wanted to change the time the lights come on as opposed to length of time. Right now its on and off at 8am-7pm. But on the weekends lights come on later so i can enjoy the tank at night. This shift oesnt seem to affect anything buts its not that big a swing.

 

lol. Way to just completely call him out. The sun changes intensity throughout the day, as it's location on the horizon moves, relative to the corals in the water. Our tank lights are rather intense (and sedentary when compared to the sun) and therefore can easily bleach corals if left on for too long.

That being said, you might be able to have a longer light cycle if your lights are not as intense (in a general sense). IE most people run a 8-10 hour light cycle. I run my lights for 13. But I have have 20W of LED 7" of the surface, where as most people are going to use more intense lighting (TaoTronics, AI, Radion, etc).

 

Yes, changing the time your light cycle begins/takes place is a much better idea than trying to lengthen it.

 

I have no evidence scientifically but traditionally isn't consitancy key in this hobby?