Timer Question

[snake_charmer]

Right now I have my timer set for 10am-10pm. Is that too long to have the lights on or does that seem alright?

 

[snake_charmer]

Anyone? It seems like this would be a rather simple question to answer. Is twelve hours of light too much or too little?

 

[vamptrev]

Anyone? It seems like this would be a rather simple question to answer. Is twelve hours of light too much or too little?

its ok. algae will grow very fast but i keep mine on about that long.

 

[crashinc25]

I have mine set for on at 2pm & off at 11pm. I get minimal algae on both my 180g & 100g in my living room. Pretty dark aside room from the lights.
Algae buildup is probably every 3 or 4 weeks to even get lil spots.

 

[snake_charmer]

Yea, the algea has become a problem since he wont let the algea eater out from the rocks to clean the tank. Maybe I'll try cutting back the timer for an hour or two, to help that out a little bit.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

To reduce algae growth add a 2h dark period in the middle of the day. Fish and plants won't mind. If you have a planted tank you want to go 14 h total light.

HarleyK

 

[Bud8Fan]

It also depends on your type and amount of lighting.

I run six 9watt flourescent puck lights (36 watts total) from 6am to 4pm then my two 4 foot flourescent shop lights (6500k at 128 total watts) kick in from 4pm to 7pm. Then it's back to the pucks from 7pm-9pm and moonlighting after that.

 

[djlancer88]

OMG THATS WAY TO LONG!!!! lol just kidding. To bad the fish couldnt speak

 

[bantsai]

me 11 am to 8 pm--i am growing fresh water plants--algae is minimal with a pleco

 

[bantsai]

Howdy,

To reduce algae growth add a 2h dark period in the middle of the day. Fish and plants won't mind. If you have a planted tank you want to go 14 h total light.

HarleyK

i have read that photosynthesis stops after 12 hours--planted tanks need 8-12 hours of sufficient light--my plants do well with 9 hours only