lighting duration for 2-175 watt MH 10,000K?

[brine0]

How long should I leave my lights on for 2-175 watt MH 10,000K?
I have a tank full of blue and pink and and green capnella? I have it set for 12 hours MH on with a 1hour duration on the actinics for a total of 14 hours. This is a well established reef tank and I am trying to optinize my growth rate for mother colony establishment for fragging. I don't want algae overgrowth to occur as I have just increased to this duration from a much smaller time duration. What is the general rule for the time?
Thanks
Brine0

 

[mooner]

brine0,

I recently asked a similar question. Most everyone seems to go with something near a 10-14 hour day with or without an actinic dusk/dawn. A 14 hour day should work. I think you should cut to 2/10/2 for a 14 hour day and only 10 of that with full MH. Just my opinion.

Also, be sure and slowly introduce the MH full intensity to the tank if it's a new setup. You can "burn" your more sensative corals from what I hear. Right now I am on a 5 hour day and I will enventually get to 12. I also raised my MH bulb to 24" above the water suface to reduce intensity. I will lower these to 8" and get the 12 hour day but I am going to give it 2 - 3 weeks and go slow.

Good luck.