lighting question (to siesta or not to siesta)

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akagochi

Aquarium Advice Activist
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
171
Location
seattle, Wa
I have a question about

I have a 55 gal, planted community, running CO2 injection. I use 2 54watt T5HO bulbs. I run the lights and the CO2 on a digital timer.

Hello there,

The LFS guys say I should run my lights and CO2 continuously for at least 10 hrs without interruption, however in Peter Hiscock's (2003) Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants, he discusses the use of a siesta period where the lights are on for 5 to 6 hrs, then off for 2 to 3, then back on for 5 to 6 more hours. My tank receives a considerable amount of natural light from our living room windows so I have been using the siesta method to cut back on the black hair algae that I was getting. This and the dosing of Flourish excel has disrupted the algae growth in the tank, so I am happy about that. I think I will keep it on the siesta schedule, since the plants are still thriving; if it aint broke, then don't fix it approach.

Question: what are your lighting schedules, and have you had to adjust then readjust?

Your thoughts are appreciated. :fish1:
 
8-10 hours a day straight, without a siesta. But then, I do not have any direct sunlight coming to my tank.
 
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