Split light on time

[wildroseofky]

I am thinking about setting my timer to come on for a couple of hours in the morning and then set the rest of the time for at night. I like to watch my tank at night but I also like to watch it in the morning while I am drinking my coffee. Does it matter if the 8 hours is one continuous period? My window faces the east and during the day I get lots of indirect sunlight to view my tank. I was leaving the light on for 12 hours but algae started to get out of hand.
I am going to buy a cheap LED light for night viewing. I was looking at blue lights or should I get red?

 

[Rivercats]

You can split your photoperiod without issue and the blue LED moonlights look the best IMO for night viewing.

 

[wildroseofky]

Thanks for the reply Rivercats. I like the blue leds myself, I just didn't know if it would bother the fish. My snake doesn't notice the red but is attracted to the blue.

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

Agreed with Rivercats.

I have my lights on for a 10 hour period split into two 5 hour periods and a 2 hour break in between. The room my tanks are in get a lot of ambient light so the lights turn off from 12pm-2pm when the light coming in is the strongest. Hopefully something like this can be used for you also.

 

[RobbyDoom]

I do 8 hrs, 10am - 2pm, then an hour siesta, then on again until 7.
I too have natural light in the room from morning until night, but no direct light on the aquarium.
I do the siesta to battle any algae growth, as algae is slower to start its photosynthesis process than plants are.

 

[Rivercats]

I use the blue LED moon lights on most of my tanks. The fish don't even notice them or at least aren't bothered by them.

 

[Rcguerra]

I have small nano cubes and the white light ended up looking more natural. I use a dimmer though, making the lights very low and "moon" looking.