Lighting Schedule

[WeLoveReefers]

Hello everyone I am new to the hobby and this site. I recently set up a 20g reef tank sps, and lps. I have a 100 watt led light with moon lights, blue lights and white lights. I am trying to determine the best lighting schedule. I usually keep the moon lights on at night, then in the am turn on the blue lights for about an hour, then the white lights during the day for 8 to 10 hours, then just the blue light for like 2 hrs, then back to the moon lights for night time. Does this seem about right? Any pointers, tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you, Matt.

 

[ReefLEDLights]

Its very hard to judge the light output of a LED fixture based on watts.

Classifying a fixture as a 100 watt one is like saying I have a V-6 in my car and then asking how fast will it go? The results are totally dependent on LED type, their Bin, their Optics and their Drive Current and even their Operating Temperature.

That said with a 20gal most low to high cost 90-120 watt fixtures should provide enough light for clams on the sand bed.

I'm a bit of a purist and like to replicate the natural intensity and spectrum of the reef.

Fossa and Nilsen in their Modern Coral Reef Aquarium Vol 1 (good read BTW) produced this graph.

Using 200 PAR max intensity on the sand bed I have had great results in my personal reef tank using this lighting schedule. Not to mention reduced electrical costs.

Bill