Lighting hours

[janiv]

Hi,

I have a 280 Liter (74 Gallons) aquarium.
I have 4 T5 39W bulbs.
I have a CO2 system and I use Seachem fertilizer.
When lights are on the temperature is 31 Celsius (89 F) (which is not so good).

My question is, what are the best hours to turn on the lights in my aquarium?

Thanks,
Janiv.

 

[gheitman]

You probably want to have them on anywhere from 8 to 10 hours but it depends on the type and quantity of plants you have, fertilizer dosing and algae growth. You might also want to consider staggering the lighting schedule if your fixture(s) allows for it.

 

[janiv]

Should I set some breaks, i.e. 4 hours on, break 4 hours, 5 hours on, break 11 hours? Or 8-10 continuous?

Thanks,
Janiv.

 

[gheitman]

You could put a break period in there. It would not only help keep the tank temp lower it could also help in controlling any algae. I run my lights 7 hours on then 3 hours off followed by 3 more hours on. That way I can feed my fish in the morning before work and then have the lights on for three hours after I get home for the evening.

 

[janiv]

Is there a minimum and maximum values for this break?

 

[gheitman]

Supposedly a minimum time of 3 hours is necessary to help control algae but I can't confirm that. I don't know about a maximum time.

 

[janiv]

Thanks,
Anyone else?

 

[cbwmn]

For your high temperature, you might try a coolinf fan:
AQUARIUM FAN CHILLER COOLING SYSTEM F-60202 - eBay (item 150377225881 end time Nov-01-09 00:25:25 PDT)
Charles

 

[janiv]

I'd love using this these fans, however my JEBO tank is fully covered.
Do you have an idea on how to use it with a JEBO tank?

What baout maximum break time between lightning periods?

Thank you all.
Janiv.

 

[cbwmn]

IMO
Just blowing across the cover would blow a lot of heat away.

Charles

 

[janiv]

Do you think so Charles, you mean putting the fans (I'll take the longer one with 6 fans) above this heavy cover, will help reduce the heat?

Thanks.

What about maximum break time between lightning periods?

Thank you all.
Janiv.

 

[cbwmn]

I made a DIY wooden hood for my 46 gal. BF.
I used and A&H 96 watt CFL kit.
I put 3 cooling fans BEHIND the reflector.
BAD mistake. If I had been thinking,
I’d realized that light output and HEAT were reflected
down toward the cover and tank.
I realized that after my ¼” glass cover
cracked lengthwise and a piece fell into the tank.
I temporarily fixed the problem by raising the hood another ½” above the glass.
Some day, I’ll install a cooling fan into and end and pull hot air out from inside the reflector.
OR, I may purchase one of those HOB fans and try that.
Yes, I think if you could direct airflow across the cover that would help.
Why don’t you send and email to one of the cooling fan suppliers and ask them?
It’d be worth a try. Unless you’re raising discus or angels, 89 deg is way too hot.
Good luck,
Charles

 

[janiv]

I tried sending a question to JEBO, but have not got an anser yet.