Light Timing

My light fixture is a Solarmax HO T5/ actinic (24w x 2). It has 5 built in blue LEDs. I have it set on a timer from 3pm until 11pm ...LEDs stay on until midnight. The tank sits in my bedroom next to a window but recieves no direct natural light. Im simply curious. If you had my set-up, how would you schedule the lighting?

 

Hey Sharkbate
I would probably increase by at least 2 hours the amount of time the T5s are on
I would probably also increase by at least 2 the number of T5s I had ) so I could increase the types of corals I could keep and the depth that I could keep them at

Steve

 

My lights are on at 11:30 off at 8...which is PLENTY and its a more natural light cycle for them with light coming through the windows of my house..it starts to brighten up when the sun comes up...then the artificial lights do the rest...

 

Well I keep my lighting from,
11am attinics come on, refuge light shuts off
12noon the daylights come on
9pm daylights shut off
10pm attinics shut off- refuge light turns on.
moon lights come on and stay on all night.

everyone will have different lighting schedules because of work times and such.

 

Thanks RH, Kevin & Steve. ...Steve ...Ill increase by 2 hours. I wanted to get a 4 bulb (2 t5 2 actinic) fixture but space is an issue. My tank is 30" wide. I only have 9" to work with from where the bow front tapers to the back of the tank ....where the HOB filter and skimmer are. If you (or anyone) has a t5 fixture suggestion, I would be grateful, as I havent yet found one to accomodate my space restrictions. More light would be awesome!

 

if price is a factor as well i'd look on ebay at any of the new odyssea models...my odyssea fixtures have been very reliable, inexpensive to buy and small as in how they are constructed. I did upgrade my bulbs to ATI BluePlus and Blues though

 

Try Hellolights they have 4 bulb retros with 2" width reflectors at a very reasonable price.

 

I don't have any usable input that others have not already said but...

I love your aquascaping job.

 

^^^^ what they said with the more bulbs and time. The lighting cycle I want to go with is 6 bulbs at these times
11-10 actinics
1230-830 14k
2-4 10k
sump light on 10-11 (when all other lights are off)
same with the moonlights

btw I like your name sharkbate, thats my puppies name too!

 

if you do go with odyssea there is a big chance you'll be upgrading your ballasts to sylvania or fulham or something within the first year. thats atleast the experience ive had with their low budget fixtures. they're low budget for a reason but atleast a 2x54W T5-HO fulham-5 is like $20 online so its not an expensive replacement.

as for lighting schedule - my tank receives 0 natural lighting as its in my basement and with my work schedule i want to be able to see my tank so the actnic is on at 2pm, full spectrum on at 3pm, full spectrum off at 11pm, actnic off at 12am, fuge light kicks on and stays on till 2pm while the moonlights are lit from 12am-10am giving the tank a 4 hour period where its totally dark.

actnic: 2pm-12am
full spec: 3pm-11pm
fuge:12am-2pm
moonlight: 12am-10am