How long do you run you lights for?

[nanoreefer22]

How long do you run your lights for? I was thinking to save electricity I could run the MH for a shorter photoperiod. I read on RC that some people were running their lights for only ~6 hours. Does anyone do this??

 

[jhale]

well Bomber on RC only runs his for 2 hours a day.
I cut mine back to six hours a day. so far I've not seen a difference.

 

[nanoreefer22]

I'm gonna cut it down too. Probably to 5-6 hours. My 175 is doing overtime now cause its got the job of lighting my whole 65 til next week when my bulbs get here.

 

[ShaunW]

My summer light schedule is:
4 VHO actinics - 7 hours
Central 20K 250 watt MH 6 hours
Left and right side 10K 250 watt MH 5 hours.

In the winter I increase the time for all lights by 1-2 hours.

 

[nanoreefer22]

I'll try to do something similar to that. 6 hours seems to be enough.

How does the 20k and 10k bulbs mix for you?

 

[glipper69]

I run VHO's for 10 hours and I stagger my halides, but they are all on for 8 hours a day

Keep us posted on the effects. I would like to save some electricity also

Frank

[ July 06, 2005, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: glipper69 ]

 

[nanoreefer22]

I'll keep you guys posted for sure.

 

[ShaunW]

Originally posted by nanoreefer22:
I'll try to do something similar to that. 6 hours seems to be enough.

How does the 20k and 10k bulbs mix for you?

The mix works great for me! The 20K lights up the center of the tank. The 10Ks flank it!

I still need to get you over my house to check out the tank and give you frags, sorry for my absent-minded-ness. I didn't forget

.

 

[House of Laughter]

Solbby,

I am doing the same thing - 14k Hamilton flanked by 2 XM 10k's and dual 110w VHO Actinics

I haven't figured out my timing but right now my actinics go on at Noon - halides on at 2 - off 4 on again at 6 and off at 10. I am going to change this as I think the animals are getting stressed with the on and off.

I plan to go to:

Actinics on at Noon of at 10pm
14k Halide - 2 pm off at 8 pm
left and right on at 5 pm off at 10 pm

House

 

[nanoreefer22]

Did someone say frags???

Shaun How's next weekend looking for you? I should have the new lighting up by then too.

 

[Dmitry]

Somebody pointed out once that on the reef - while daylight does last about 12 hrs - it is only at its full intensity for about 3! Since our lamps don't adjust most reefers are probably overdoing it a bit.

 

[bad coffee]

Eeek.

I run my 150 from 10 am to 8 pm.

I don't have actinics.

BC

 

[DRZL]

MH 11 AM-9:00 PM

Actinics only on at the begin/final hour of the "day"

I like to see my tank on, not off. koooky if you ask me to run it for 2 hrs. I understand the wannabe zoox experiment, but whats the point of having a tank? might as well paint all the glass sides black too.

 

[FastUno]

What do you guys think you are paying monthly to just run the MH alone? Something like $30-50 more dollars a month?

 

[nanoreefer22]

Andres, good point on the 2 hours thing. I'll be running my lights during the afternoon hours when I'm home and sure I'll get to see it. For the summer I'll settle with ~6 hours and for the winter ~7 or 8 hours. With the actinic on the for an hour before and after.

Fast, Now i think I'm probably, well my mom is probably paying about $10 dollars for the month from what i heard about the bill, it hasnt really changed much but I could be wrong.