Are long photoperiods detrimental to your reef tank?

[Brew12]

I run a 16 hour schedule but only 5 hours at the peak. My understanding is that the coral can't utilize any more light than that anyway. I run my fuge on a 16 hour reverse cycle. I hope by running my DT lights at a much lower PAR level than my fuge light, I can encourage algae growth in my fuge instead of my DT.

 

[GabeM]

I run mine at 14 hours because I am selfish and want to see them.

1 hour sunrise / 6 hours 80% white 100% blue / 1 hr sunset / 6 hours 100% blue 10% red.

They don't seem bothered - I just have to keep on my continued battle with GHA (I run 24/7 in the refugium).

 

[sfin52]

I ramp up my led 8-1300. My t5 Kick on at 1500. Led ramp down starting at 2130 all shut off at 2230.

My kids start turning lights on around 0800 so why not start lights than.

 

[Fish_Sticks]

I adjust photo period based on my fish's behavior, not the corals.

It's very obvious when the fish are tired and just want to sleep, this is usually around 9/10 for me. The room my tank is in gets a fair amount of afternoon ambient light, with lights coming on at 11am

 

[GrizFyrFyter]

I run a 14 hour period.

What's the reasoning behind the intesity peaks and valleys? I'm seeing this more often but haven't found the source.

 

[Fourstars]

I did run mine for 15hrs a day, but cut it down a few hours, to much growth and not enough space. plus I agree that fish seem annoyed with the longer photo periods.

 

[AdamNC]

2 hour ramp up, 10 hour peak and then a 2 hour ramp down.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I adjust photo period based on my fish's behavior, not the corals.

It's very obvious when the fish are tired and just want to sleep, this is usually around 9/10 for me. The room my tank is in gets a fair amount of afternoon ambient light, with lights coming on at 11am

Same boat with ambient light in our living room.

 

[Hemmdog]

What's the reasoning behind the intesity peaks and valleys? I'm seeing this more often but haven't found the source.

I think it makes them fluoresce better or something?

 

[AdamNC]

I think it makes them fluoresce better or something?

The only thing I can figure is maybe to simulate cloud cover?

 

[Hemmdog]

The only thing I can figure is maybe to simulate cloud cover?

Ah yea that could make sense to, not sure lol.

 

[Geebs19]

What's the reasoning behind the intesity peaks and valleys? I'm seeing this more often but haven't found the source.

Simulating clouds, I believe that was the thought process behind it and to not constantly blast the coral at high intensity all day. I copied it from the aI website and then just made it a bit longer and its been working well for me for the past 6 months.

 

[Musovski]

I run my lights from 10am ramp up from 10am to 12pm, then from 12pm to 5pm its peak at 60% white 20%blues. I run blues because im a dummy. lol. Then from 5pm to 6pm its ramp off for white. Then from 6pm to 8pm its blues to ramp off. Then lights off 8pm to 10am.

Fuge light comes at 8pm for its photo period. and goes off at 9am. Tank has an hour grace of full lights off

 

[rmiles54]

Has anyone noticed a decrease or increase in coral color with the extended photo period? I remember talking with a LFS owner who had a ridiculous selection of some of the most colorful corals I have ever seen and he said he only runs his lights 5 hours a day.( shop hours). I personally run mine from 1030am to 11pm. Peak in the middle around 6 hours.

 

[MTBake]

My metal halide runs for 11 hours and my Kessil runs for 9 hours. No reasoning behind it. Just what I went with and it seems to work ok.

 

[rkpetersen]

What's the reasoning behind the intesity peaks and valleys? I'm seeing this more often but haven't found the source.

The idea is to simulate light intermittent cloud cover, and give the corals a slight break from continuous maximum intensity.
I do it because why not?, although I don't know that there's any proof that it does anything special for your corals.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

The idea is to simulate light intermittent cloud cover, and give the corals a slight break from continuous maximum intensity.
I do it because why not?, although I don't know that there's any proof that it does anything special for your corals.

I’m a hydra user as well but I don’t have any respiration peaks. The only time I tried it last year I had rtn the next day. I dont believe some corals can tolerate multiple spectrum changes like these produce. If you want cloud coverage, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just turn on the weather feature.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I never turn my light off - JUST KIDDING FOLKS !!!+

Mine are on from 7am - 10p.
7am Reefbrite XHO
9am- 14 bulb T5
10am- Kessil A700s
12p - SB Reef ultras

3pm - t5 purples kick on
6pm T5 whites turn off
8pm - Kessils ramp down to blues
9pm - all T5 off
9:30p- Kessils turn off
10P- Reefbrites turn off
10p- Moonlight turn on
10:05p SB Reefs turn off


All controlled by Two Apex EB32 power banks

 

[Acameron2]

I run 12 hour period with a 2 hour ramp up and down time. My max percentage on a diode is 70% I am using the David Saxby preset from D-D AI program but with my own modifications. To my research the peaks and falls act as a respitory period between intensity for coral. ‍It’s growing/coloring up coral for me ‍

 

[Streetcred]

So what is a normal period of light in the coral zone ... not blazing for 15 hours. What about the fish in the tank, is exposing them to extended periods of light tantamount to maltreatment ?

My current tank mimics GBR lighting periods and has done so for +12 years.

;-)