How long do I keep the lights on for?

O

Opicana

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May 13, 2006
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How long should I keep my lights on for?

72g
2x54w T5HO (1 is a 10,000k the other just said "freshwater" it came w/ the fixture...a NOVA extreme)
A variety of your basic, beginner, low light plants
No CO2, but dosing w/ Flourish Excel

I know my lighting is kind of low, I had another 40w that I wanted to tack on as well, but I can't fit both fixtures over the tank and still have access.
 
From what I've read those fixtures are estimated to give about 40% additional usable light compared to a PC light w/a good reflector. Using that info I would say that you actually have a medium light tank. I run my med. light tanks 11 hours continuously.
I would say 8-10 would be conservative.
 
that freshwater bulb doesnt do anything for the plants, it is just color enhancing for the fish is what i have gotten from the research i have done on the fixtures. I have the big brother to that one and it came with 2 actinics which im dumping cause i have a fw tank and the other 2 were 10k daylight bulbs. I bought two 6700k bulbs to use as growing bulbs.
Aside from that, depending on what you have in the tank as far as plants and amounts, 10-12 hours should be fine. the plants are getting less than 1 wpg, if both bulbs actually work you would be getting 1.5 wpg. Either way, you should be ok. If you start seeing algae, get rid of it and reduce the time the light is on.
 
The freshwater bulb will grow plants fine, you don't need to replace it unless you don't like the color.

You have plenty of light, those T5HO puts out more than traditional fluorescent. Considering you don't have CO2 that is about as high as you want to go.
 
SuBXeRo said:
that freshwater bulb doesnt do anything for the plants, it is just color enhancing for the fish is what i have gotten from the research i have done on the fixtures. I have the big brother to that one and it came with 2 actinics which im dumping cause i have a fw tank and the other 2 were 10k daylight bulbs. I bought two 6700k bulbs to use as growing bulbs.
Aside from that, depending on what you have in the tank as far as plants and amounts, 10-12 hours should be fine. the plants are getting less than 1 wpg, if both bulbs actually work you would be getting 1.5 wpg. Either way, you should be ok. If you start seeing algae, get rid of it and reduce the time the light is on.
Click to expand...

http://www.current-usa.com/novaextremet5hox2.html

The bulbs work together for optimal plant health! Look at the spectrum charts. Has nothing to do with fauna. It doesn't matter what you have in the tank, one is still going to run the lights the same amount of time. :lipssealedsmilie:
 
Fordtrannyman said:
From what I've read those fixtures are estimated to give about 40% additional usable light compared to a PC light w/a good reflector. Using that info I would say that you actually have a medium light tank. I run my med. light tanks 11 hours continuously.
I would say 8-10 would be conservative.
Click to expand...

Another consideration would be the distance of the light to the water surface.
I was basing my answer at a distance of approx. 1"
Sitting Directly on a Versa Top.
 
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