Lighting programming

Vince7177 · May 11, 2019

Hi guys ,
I just setup a new Red Sea max nano and I have difficulties to setup my light timing,
Sunrise, sunset, blue moon, full light , levels etc....
Any experience in this tank?
It’s connected to myAI App.

Ron Reefman · May 12, 2019

Sunrise and sunset can be as long as you like. 30 minutes or 4 hours. It's about your enjoyment, the corals really don't care. I do a 4 hour sunrise and a 5 hour sunset. I do a 6 hour midday peak, but in that 6 hours, I'm including the last hour of sunrise and the first hour of sunset as I know they are almost as intense as the midday peak levels.

Your corals need a bare minimum of 4 to 5 hours of peak, midday lighting to do photosynthesis. Probably 6 to 8 hours is even better. More than that isn't really harmful, but it also isn't helpful either. The zooxanthellae will only do photosynthesis for 'X' number of hours. Typically that's about 5 to 7 and then the photosynthesis shuts down no matter how much light you give it.

Moon lighting is just ascetics for human enjoyment. The critters in your tank really don't care. But they would probably appreciate some 'dark' hours.

As to intensity levels, you either need a PAR meter or help from somebody familiar with the tank and light fixture you are using. I wouldn't presume to guess as I don't know your system.