How many hours should you run your lights?

[cichlidcichlid]

I have a 29gallon planted tank with a 55watt compact florecent. I am currently running at 12 and a half hours.

The fish store told me to change it to 8 hours is this right or should it be less?

I am wondering if this is contributing to my algae problem.

 

[tanker]

Are you adding CO2?? Ferts??

My lights are on only 9 hours.

 

[petluvr]

My lights are on 8 hour timers.

 

[Chrisinator]

Mine are on from 3-10. So that's about 7 hours. They are on a timer also.

 

[coach_z]

8-10 hours is normally recommended....but that also depends on several factors whcih are mainly personal preference.

is your long photoperiod contributing to your algae? probably but it depends. please tell us the following:
fert. dosing schedule
co2 injected? DIY or Pressurized?
what type of algae you have

 

[cichlidcichlid]

It is 12 hours on a timer from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
I was dosing Gregswatsons ferts potassium nitrate, mono potassium phosphate, and potassium sulfate.

I used DIY Co2 injecting it through a powerhead.

I have stopped everything because my tank gets really bad if I continue with either of those.

The plants are sending up bubbles occassionally but I have blue green algae all over the place and just keeps coming back. The plants are suffering because of it.

 

[cichlidcichlid]

So what should I be reducing the time period to?

 

[Dr. Awkward]

I'd knock it down to 8 hours and see if that helps. I do a 14-hour schedule with a 4-hour siesta in the middle of the day and my algae problems have stopped. Also, try cutting your ferts in half. I find half doses work better for me. I get blue green algae if I do full dosing.

 

[FISHSHROD]

I run 6 hrs during the week, 9 and a half on Saturday and 15 on Sunday on my high tech planted tanks. On my low light / low tech tanks I run 5 hrs 24/7.

 

[DoctaQ]

or ditch the phosphate since cyano tends to feed off of high phosphates, or cut your dose in half, i cant imagine co2 contributing to cyano