Light Timing Question

[Cliff519]

I just replaced the blubs in the used light fixture I just bought for my SW tank. It’s a 4 bulb HO T5 fixture with 4 LED moon lights. Right now I have two 54W / 14000K white bulbs, two 54W / 20000K blue asentic lights. Each pare of lights have there own switch and each pair can be controlled separately with the built in timer. I’m looking for suggestions on the timing of the lights.

At some point I will be adding a wide variety of soft corals and maybe an anemone.

Here’s what I was thinking:

Blue lights – on 11:00am off at 9:30pm
White lights – on 3:00pm off at 8:30pm
Moon lights – on at 9:30pm off at 12:30am

I’m open to any thoughts or suggestions you have may have.

 

[LD50]

I just replaced the blubs in the used light fixture I just bought for my SW tank. It’s a 4 bulb HO T5 fixture with 4 LED moon lights. Right now I have two 54W / 14000K white bulbs, two 54W / 20000K blue asentic lights. Each pare of lights have there own switch and each pair can be controlled separately with the built in timer. I’m looking for suggestions on the timing of the lights.

At some point I will be adding a wide variety of soft corals and maybe an anemone.

Here’s what I was thinking:

Blue lights – on 11:00am off at 9:30pm
White lights – on 3:00pm off at 8:30pm
Moon lights – on at 9:30pm off at 12:30am

I’m open to any thoughts or suggestions you have may have.

I have the same lighting set up and I run 1/2 power for 30 min, full power 12 hrs and 1/2 power for 30 min. I would strongly suggest an alternating pattern for bulb placement for better growth and looks. Blue/white/blue/white. If you can place the bulbs like that and still run your actinics and white bulbs seperately then 30 min actinic on each end of your photo period would be fine but my unit only lets me run pairs.

 

[Cliff519]

LD50, it never occured to me to mix up the color as you have suggested.

I think I'll try it to see how it will look.

thx

 

[FLESHY]

Sounds good to me...I think this is how a lot of people do it.