Peak Photo Period - Stony Corals

[Palting]

I run 150W 10K metal halides from 1PM to 9PM. Actinic HO T5's start 15 minutes earlier and end 15 minutes later. LED moonlights run from 8PM to MN.

The tank is an SPS dominant reef. SPS love light, and the one's in my tank have had excellent growth. IMO, the 8 hours of MH light contribute significantly to their growth. Here is one example, photos are worth a thousand words.

Fresh from the LFS:

3 months:

3 years:

4 years:

 

[maxxin69]

I run my LED's for about 7 hours then I have T5's that I run for about 4.

 

[hybridazn]

T5s are on for 12 hours. Metal halides are on for 8 hours

 

[scardall]

How does nature lighting change? Ramp up to full spectrum and ramping down at the end of the day. Plus what ever changes the weather makes . So all in all is do what works for you. I would like to emulate nature if I can.

 

[erk]

I light my reef with a DIY LED setup from RapidLED. I control the LEDs with an Arduino. So the blues come on and ramp up to 35% over 2 hrs, then whites ramp up to 25% over 1 hr, then blue and white on for 4 hrs, then ramp down is same as ramp up. Whites then blues. I get awesome growth from this. Only problem I have is stabilizing my parameters. They are mostly stable now, so I am seeing corals start to grow again. I also get very vibrant coloring. Just wish I could get my dosing pumps programmed with my Arduino, then it would be easier to keep control over my parameters.

 

[puffer420]

I only run all my lights for about 3 hrs a day should I run them longer t5 run for 12 hrs one halide for 7 hrs and two other halides for 3 hrs.