Full Spectrum, Solid Blue, or No Lighting at Night?

[jbrock183]

I’ve read mixed reviews about whether one should use full spectrum lighting, solid, blue lighting, or no lighting at all during the night for a coral reef saltwater aquarium. What have you learned based on your experience? I’ve been using full spectrum lighting and I’m not sure I’m getting the best response from my coral and their best growth and color.

I would appreciate any expertise you might have to share with me!

 

[56longroof]

I'm in the full spectrum camp. I like the natural look of the corals. The heavy blue light make everything look like a kids Glo Fish tank in my opinion.I dont run any lighting at night. I feel it's part of the cycle and allows the nocturnal critters to get their turn to run around. Another thing to consider is your parameters/nutrient levels. They are just as important as lighting.

 

[jbrock183]

I'm in the full spectrum camp. I like the natural look of the corals. The heavy blue light make everything look like a kids Glo Fish tank in my opinion.I dont run any lighting at night. I feel it's part of the cycle and allows the nocturnal critters to get their turn to run around.

Do you never use full lighting? I’ve only been using full lighting during the day and full spectrum lighting at night with no time under no lighting at all.

 

[jbrock183]

I should clarify that what I mean by full spectrum lighting I mean a rotation of blue lighting, green lighting, red lighting, yellow lighting and orange lighting.

 

[56longroof]

Do you never use full lighting? I’ve only been using full lighting during the day and full spectrum lighting at night with no time under no lighting at all.

I run my lights 12 hours on and 12 off with a 1 hour ramp up/down. I have 4 54 watt T5's, 2 10k and 2 actinic, and 2 250 watt 10k metal halides. With 2 power compact 65 watt actinic. I see no benefit to run lights 24 hours unless your planning on a algea farm.

 

[56longroof]

I should clarify that what I mean by full spectrum lighting I mean a rotation of blue lighting, green lighting, red lighting, yellow lighting and orange lighting.

Full spectrum generally means all on at once. Not separate light schedules for each one.

 

[jbrock183]

I run my lights 12 hours on and 12 off with a 1 hour ramp up/down. I have 4 54 watt T5's, 2 10k and 2 actinic, and 2 250 watt 20k metal halides. With 2 power compact 65 watt actinic. I see no benefit to run lights 24 hours unless your planning on a algea farm.

This might explain my mild but consistent problem with light algae. My parameters are perfect and my fish and coral are thriving. Like I said, it’s mild but I haven’t been able to explain any of my algae other than coraline. Thank you!

 

[Reefering1]

You have lights on 24/7??

 

[jbrock183]

I suppose I have been. I thought the colored lighting was for the night time. I won’t be doing that anymore.

 

[djf91]

Good lord lol. The animals in the tank, fish included, need a no lights at all period for health. Id say at least 10 hours of no light at all.


And the darker the better during this night time period. Minimize room light as much as possible.

 

[exnisstech]

^This ^ I run no lights at light. I tried moonlight light that some people run but I didn't really care for it. I have red led flashlight that I use if I want to look at the night time critters

 

[bakbay]

Man - those fish were so traumatized with the lights on 24/7!@$ lol

I ramp down to actinics in the evening for some "eye candy" -- corals look so cool at night for 2 hours and go completely dark from 9pm to 6am.

 

[Reefering1]

His fish be like...

 

[bakbay]

ROFL -- that's a good one!

 

[56longroof]

I suppose I have been. I thought the colored lighting was for the night time. I won’t be doing that anymore.

Ask lots of questions. That's how we learn. Also I'm partial to books. Anything by Tullock,Sprung and Paletta are my go to sources.

 

[Tamberav]

You can use moonlight but it’s basically 1 or 2 dim low powered leds specifically made for that and they hardly light up anything so tank is still pretty dang dark.

You would eventually kill your corals with regular lights on 24/7

 

[JGT]

 

[56longroof]

Come on guys. We all had to start somewhere.

 

[CHSUB]

Come on guys. We all had to start somewhere.

When I started, I also left the lights on 24/7 because I thought the fish needed to see so they would not bang into the glass; however I was 9 and was afraid of the dark myself.

 

[Reefering1]

I'm honestly trying to find a way to rationalize cycling lights between red, green, blue and white 24/7. I can't.

When in doubt, trying to mimic the ocean is a safe bet.