Help with light cycle timing!

[Gmandese]

I just finished my 46g bowfront canopy, and I'm putting my lights on timers. Up to this point, I would turn them on in the morning, when I left for work at 7:00 am. I would then turn the white lights off around 8:00 at night, leaving the actinics on. I guess that's way too long, but it was the only option I had.

Here's what I want to do. Set the on time so that the end of the cycle gives me time to observe my tank in the evenings when I get home from work.
I'd like to have them go off around 9:00, leaving the actinics on for a couple of more hours. When should I turn them on?
Also, should I have my actinics come on earlier than the white lights? Is that better for coraline growth?

I have the tank stocked with fish and softies, no SPS corals.

I am using:
2 x 65w pc's, 1-10,000k and 1-10,000k/6500k Dual Daylight
2 x 20w blue actinics (Marine-Glo)
2 x white moonlights
1 x 3" fan

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

(you can see my canopy pics in the DIY thread)

 

[House of Laughter]

Gman,

Assumptions:
1) The lights above are on seperate timers
2) you have a mixed reef with hard and soft corals

Actinics - Turn on 1:00 pm turn off at 11:00 pm (10 hour photo period)
10k's - Turn on at 2 pm and off at 9 pm (7 hour photo period)
Moonlights - Turn on at 11 pm and off at 7:00 am.
Fan should be on at all times IMO

House

 

[Gmandese]

Thanks house. I have them on separate timers. However, I have no hard corals (as of now, anyway) just softies. Should I make the change "cold turkey" or gradually change from what I have been doing up till now?

 

[House of Laughter]

Gman, the same cucyle will be good for softies -

I typically go cold turkey, but that's me. Since you'll actually be reducing the amount of light by a few hours, I think you'll be OK You'll also notice a difference in the health of the tank. Somtimes too much lite leads to algae blooms etc bleaching etc.

House