What light schedule for new MH?

[Syris]

I have finished building my new hood, just need to wire fans and MH.
I plan to be putting it on my tank this weekend but I don't know what light schedule to start off with.

Currently I have 440 watts VHO (2-Actinic white, 2-03 Actinic) on a schedule of 8hrs/day
The new lights will be 2-175w 10k and 2-110w 03 Actinic.

The inhabitants are:
1. Acro (Green Slimer)
2. Capnella
3. Open brain
4. some mushrooms
5. branching porites
6. Torch coral

I have 3 digital timers, 1 for VHO and 2 for MH. I was thinking of starting off with 6hrs of VHO and 4hrs of MH. Then increasing light period by 1hr per week till VHO is on for 12hrs and MH is on for 10hrs.

How that sound? Or should I start off lower light schedule?
Also I plan on getting some more SPS very soon as well. Should these be added to reef while the light schedule is being acclimated or wait till my light schedule is in full swing?

TIA

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, for reef denizens you have to consider that there is effectively no fluctuation in daylight intensities or photoperiod. 12 hours/day is MUCH more in line with what they'll need.

What I recommend is staggering how and in what sequence the lights come on, for instance:
a.m.
Actinic #1 on @7-8 for the first hour.
Actinic #2 on the second hour.
By 10am turn on the whites, staggering so you simulate "high noon". Leave them on for the bulk of the day, between 4-6 hours.
p.m.
@5-6 turn off white #1.
An hour later turn off white #2.
An hour later turn off actinic #1.
An hour later turn off actinic #2.

If you find that your specimens seem to appreciate a slightly longer photoperiod, then you can raise it to 14 hours/day, but not much longer than that.

It is most helpful to have the lights wired separately as well, then hooked up to timers. You don't have to stagger them one by one, but the critters (and maybe your energy bill) seem to appreciate as close a simulation to daylight cycles as possible. This is not, however, a hard and fast rule. There are plenty of folks whose sys's do just fine by turning everything on for 12-14 hours and shutting it off at night, too.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, if you only have the VHO's on for 8hrs/day, then you throw on MH, you'll have a good chance of "burning" the corals. The VHO photoperiod needs to be extended, and if you have a way to set the MH's further away then moving them closer (or using a shield) you'll have a better chance of not burning.

 

[Syris]

Thanks Seamaiden, although you're first reply had me scratching my head for a minute thinking it was some kind of RDO mind trick

I think I'll try a short light period for MH and keep them a little higher above the tank for a few weeks then slowly increase the photoperiod.

Thanks again.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, Syrus! My mind is often quite distracted, and I tend to jump back and forth. I was hoping that I was quick enough, but damn, you were right on it! :lol:

Just be careful when making that switch, and keep the photoperiod to 12hrs. For instance, in Puerto Rico (the only equatorial place I've ever been to), the sun rises at 6am, and it sets at 6pm. The island is about 200mi north of the equator, IIRC.