New Light on my 55g

[levilowe]

I just put this new light on my 55g. The tank is 6 week new. How many hours a day should I run the lights.
(2) x 54W T5 HO fluorescent 12,000k white daylight bulbs; offers natural sunlight
(2) x 54W blue actinic bulbs-health of marine corals and invertebrate
(4) Pairs, 8 blue-moonlight LED lights for night time viewing; saves electricity

 

[Togliat]

Are you running a planted freshwater tank? If so, there will be a a minimum time for lighting, and others more knowledgeable than myself will be able to speak to the lumens and other factors that can affect plant growth.

I run my lights about 7 hours a day, sometimes 8-9. I have been experimenting since an algae bloom - shortening light time frame and installing UV filtration system.

I hope this helps.

 

[levilowe]

There is plants. And with my light I have the choice to run both vho and blue or one of the two. Should I run both together.

 

[Togliat]

I would run both 6700k lights that are good for plants and see how you like it. Give it a week or two and you might get used to it and notice more plant growth.

The blue / actinic lights look really nice, but I don't think they are as good for plants as the 6700k lights. I had one 6700k and one actinic light in my T5 HO set up and I removed the actinic, replacing it with a second 6700k light. It looks more "ghoulish" without the blue actinic, but my plants grew like crazy. Of course, there were many other factors; i was running CO2 into the tank - which probably helped a great deal.

 

[levilowe]

Thank a lot for the input. Need all the help I can get.