Lighting timing question

[vermonter310]

Hmmm....this question just hit me. I keep reading about people having their lights on a timer to mimic the daily natural light cycle. Ie..soft light for half an hour in the AM then bright light then more subdued light at dusk again. So here's the question. Are you tanks dark during the evening? this would seem to me the time I would most likely have to enjoy my tank and would like it to be lighted as my FW tank is now. Lights on from about 3:30-9:45pm.

Thanks for responding....I learn something new every post.

VT

 

[fishfreek]

When we say resemble the day/nite cycle we mean in number of hours on/off not exactly the time of day the lights are on/off.

For example.

My 20 gal timmer turns the lights on at 9AM and off at 10PM. Thats 13 hours of light.

My 80 is on a little different schedule. The actinics come on around 10am and then the 10K white bulbs come on around 11am. Then around 10pm the white bulbs go out and around 11pm the actinics go out.

As you can see the lights are on for about 12 hours or so per day (remember most reefs fall in the tropics thus they get 12 hours or so of light year round). The light schedule is your preference. If you want to view the tank at night just start the light cycle later in the morning.

 

[vermonter310]

Makes sense,

Thanks FF

VT