new lights?

Im sure this sounds like a dumb question but i just got a current dual 96w w/dual daylight and actinic lights for my 40g reef tank im setting up. i have a few fish live rock but no corals. the hippie woman at the store told me to run the daylight for 8 hours a day and the actinic for 9 hours. now im sure ive heard to go for 12 hours a day somewhere so yeah how long should i keep my lights on for? also these things are bright as hell like if i look at my tank then at my computer screen the screen looks all orange and faded i think its great but will the lights dim down after a while or will they always be this bright

 

Light cycle's on your tank is up to you... I had MH light bulbs and in the winter months would runn them for 10+ hours and in the summer heat months would drop the light cycle down to 8-10 hrs pendin how hot the tank gets.. Now the Question of 8hrs of day light bulbs and 9hrs of actinic bulbs... thats a nother i think is up to you....
This is what i do to my tank.. some agree and or dissagree..
i have my actinics come on 1/2hr before my daylight's or MH pending what your useing
then the daylites are on.. For your preferance.. then shut off 1/2hr before the actincs.. then actinics off 1/2hr later.. i do this to some what symulate morning and night.. so its not a shock of instant light, instant dark...

The other question of light dimming in time yes they will dim out in time.. How long that will take is up to the bulbs and your hourly runn time...

As far as your comp glare.. I am not sure of your light hood and set up but you can put some type of light blocker Via wooden hood or so..

LIke alway i hope theres a helping hand where i left off or forgot...



Good luck..!!

 

my actinics come on at 6am my daylights come on at 8am (actinics stay on all day) my daylighs go off at 6pm actinics off 8pm moonlights 24/7

 

I run compackflouressent anatinic bulbs 65 watt x 4 10hrs day daylight bulbs
65 watts x 4 5hrs a day.
l have 125 gal reef tank