flipping photo-period for summer

[fungia]

i have a crazy idea to save money over the summer. can i flip the photoperiod so the lights are on at night? will this be a problem for my corals or fish, should i gradually flip the photo-period over a few weeks or is it okay to do it suddenly?

 

[Anonymous]

If you are going to chage it do it gradually. I do not see it being that big of a deal. I run my actinics from 11:30a to 11:30p from now until the time changes back.

 

[Snowboarda42]

yeah how do you figure that you'll save money? plus you won't be able to enjoy it as much since MOST people sleep at night...

 

[fungia]

the house is much cooler at night so when the lights come on during the night, the chiller wont run as hard. i work during the day so i only see the tank after 6pm anyhow.

 

[Anonymous]

I think it's a great idea, but I agree with Wazzel that gradual would be the best way, so you don't mess with your critters too much.

My lights are on noon to 11pm. Laura

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm...I am wondering if the natural sunlight is going to interfere with the photperiod? Unless the room is pretty darn dark during the day, I would think it would screw things up circadian-wise, especially for the fish more than the coral...but even the coral, I had thought, needs pretty decent darkness?

Dont the fish especially need that dark period to rest? And the inverts to scavage?

 

[fungia]

my reef is in a almost all dark room if i close the one wood blinds, so sunlight isnt a problem. i was thinking fish go through one flip already when they are shipped from half way around the world to us so it should be fine. i will try it slow this summer.

 

[Anonymous]

my reef is in a almost all dark room if i close the one wood blinds, so sunlight isnt a problem. i was thinking fish go through one flip already when they are shipped from half way around the world to us so it should be fine. i will try it slow this summer.

They went through a flip, but they still had a certain amount of hours of pure darkenss.

I think if you can make the room dark enough during the day, it should be fine.

I have been searching for the article (I think it was originally in Coral magazine, but I know I saw it on line too?) about how many species of fish, and pretty much all coral need almost total darkness, or close to it, for proper health, and that not getting this weakens the fish's immunity system, and as well, stunts the growth of many corals.

In the wild, remember, ther eis almost total darkness at night, except for moonglow for only part of the month.