Light Timing Suggestions...

[djdubdub]

I am currently using a white/blue fluorescent light combination... I'm also aware a 12-14 hour "daylight" cycle is recommended for good growth stimulation... I also like to have my actinic light come on first so not to spook the fish with the bright white lights.

With that all being said... I'd like some feedback as to how I should "time" my lights...

Right now my actinic comes on at 10am and off at 2pm. White light comes on at 12pm and stays on until 9pm. Actinic comes back on at 7pm and goes off at 11pm. So basically I am getting 8hrs of actinic and 9hrs of white within a 13hr period....

Is this good??? Is this bad??? Has anyone had luck w/ a similar sequence??? Has anyone had better luck w/ a different sequence??? Should I time it any different??? Thanks....

[captexas]

I think that it is best to have the actinics on at the same time as your daylight bulbs. Offers more of a complete spectrum of light for a longer period of time. If you are looking for a softer start and end of the cycle to produce a slightly more natural lighting effect, run the actinics for two hours, then all lights for 8 hours, and then just the actinics for the last two hours. This of course shortens the life of the actinic bulbs compared to the others, which you may not want to do. You could also just add a low wattage flourescent light to your setup to come on earlier and later than your main lights to slowly lighten up the tank instead of all at once. I did this when I had just my VHO setup on my tank. I got a 15watt strip light from Home Depot and put it on a timer to come on before and after the VHO's to give the dawn/dusk effect.

[djdubdub]

True... True... So far, it seems that its not the timing of the light, but the duration... Correct me if I'm wrong...

I just hate the thought of the actinics being on for 12-13hrs a day... I guess I could have the actinics on at 11am to 11pm and my whites from 1pm to 9pm... Thanks...