So many lights, which and when??

[rusty-nail-z]

Hey everyone, i just purchased a sweet light set up
Its a nova extreme HO with 4 54w bulbs, and a variety of different lighting options
1. Daytime ( 2bulbs, 10,000k)
2. Actinic (2 bulbs, 460nm)
3. daytime and actinic
4. Moonlights (4 bulbs)

I think i have the moonlights down ;), but as for the others....
Which lights should i use; the combination?One at a time at different times? Duration? etc
I dont have much of a clue here, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

In case it matters, im curing live rock and cycling right now in preparation for a reef-then-fish tank.







i rea

[Germanman]

really the pattern is up to you. most have the actenics come on an hour before the daylight tubes and then the daylights turn off before the acteinc...but its really up to the aquarist them self. u general need 8 or more hours of light but can have less like 6 hours.

[USCavalry19d]

As German says most (including myself) have the actinic lights come on about 1 hour before the day lights and go off an hour or so after the day lights. it really is best to buy a timer for each light. each light should have their own individual power chord. Simple buy 2 timers and plug and play. this is much easier on you and better for the fish and life in the tank so the lights generally come on at around the same time as well as go off.