Leaving light on How long?

[Darth-Tater]

Ok I have looked everywhere and found so many different opinons that I thought that I would ask the people who I know...that know fish.( ;) ) I have 2 250 10k bulbs along with 4 actinic vho. My question is how long should each set stay on for? Also, what time does everybody have them come on in the day and what time do they go off at night? My tank is 100 gal w/mixed corals and fish. It has been up and running with this light combo since july 2005. Any thoughts?

Thanks
DT

[Richard]

Mine are on for a total of seven hours. Two on for 3 hours, then all on for one hour, then the other two on for 3 hours. Seems to work and cuts down on my electric bill.

[cpreefguy]

Leave them on long enough for your corals to grow, but not long enough for algae to grow :)
I usually see a 12hr photo period. Actinics come on 1hr before MH's and actinics stay on 1 hr after MH's go off. So actinice on for 12 hrs and MH's on for 10. HTH

[Richard]

OH!!! My post wasn't clear. That is my halide schedule. VHO's are on 12 hrs.

[LoneStar]

My metal halide is on for 7 hours a day and my T-5 actinics are on for 13 hours lol. The halide turns on at noon and off at 6pm. The T-5's are on from 6am to 7 pm. If I'm looking at the tank longer during the night I'll flip on the T-5's.

[hobogato]

i have four stages of lights. blue LED moonlight 24/7. actinic PC 5:30am to 9:30pm. 50/50 PC 9am to 8pm. 14K MH 11am to 6pm.

[LoneStar]

Oh yeah, forgot the moonlight LED's I made. Since they do not draw hardly any power, I leave those on 24/7.

[Darth-Tater]

Thanks to everyone. I need my actinic on a little longer and adjust the halides to come on later and go off sooner. I will adjust the timer today.

David

[1460sun]

Sounds like I need to get some T5 actinics (already have the ballast). I've noticed that growth seems to have come to almost a halt especially on my zoos. I've been running just the MH 250w, 15k with the blue LED moonlights since I set up the 120 and hey I game for anything that will cut the electric bill.

[Andrew]

10k's for 6 hours
actinics for 14

works well for me,
and i don't have to replace 10k's so often and lower electric bill