how many hours to light FOWLR and REEF tanks??

M

Mooch28

AC Members
Dec 24, 2004
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Toronto (Brampton)
Hey guys, as someof you know by reaidng my journal, ive started a 110 gallon Reef tank. Will be SPS down the road, but for now mostly FOWLR.

My question is this. How many hours should lights be kept on?? I only have a 4 x 65 watt PC light for a total of 2.4 watts per gallon, and the tank is high (30 inches). I know for freshwater, the reccomended hours are 10-12, but what about for FOLWR systems??

And what if i start adding coral like sps, lps, softies, etc, is lighting hours the same or should they be decreased??

I do have a fuge that will have a reverse photo period, so please keep that in mind.

Thanks, you guys are awsome.
 
On my reef the photoperiod is 12h:
1h actinic only
10h actinic + daylight
1h actinic only

On the FOWLR it's 14h (so we can watch the fish longer in the evening):
1h actinic only
12h actinic + daylight
1h actinic
3h moonlights

I use timers so the fish have gotten used to it, and the corals even start to 'get ready for bed' before lights out. I think 12h is enough, and some people with MH lighting run PCs for 10-12h with the MH on for about 6h in the middle of the day to mimic the time period of intense sun in the tropics. If you're running the fuge lights on a reverse photoperiod, I'd do 12/12.
 
A photoperiod of atleast 9 hrs is needed for all corals, anything over 9 hrs is not used for the production of zoo algae (needed for corals). so the required amount of light for corals is 9 hrs, but most normally run actinics for 30 minutes in morning and 30 minutes in afternoon, creating a photoperiod of 10 hours, which is supposed to be best.
 
ok got it guys, thanks.

I think i'll go 12/12.

Just one thing guys, why run actincs for an hour first and an hour after day lights?? Is their some benefits to doing this??
 
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I just got a heads-up from someone over at reefcentral, who told me that with a lot of light (and a long photoperiod) on my tank, I'll likely get a hair algae outbreak soon despite having lots of macro to suck up PO4 and NO3. Just wanted to add that here - I'm still very much learning, so it's entirely possible that the light type/schedule I posted above won't work on my FOWLR for long and I'll reduce it by 110W and 4 hours or so.
 
Yes fowlers will suffer with longer light periods, as there is not point lighting them up for 12 hours or so. 10 hours is maximum, any more and hair algae will start to grow like a weed, unless you have no phosphate and no nitrate. When you do decide to get corals, keep you lighting at 9 hrs, as i said above thats the total requirement they need.
 
mysis said:
Yes fowlers will suffer with longer light periods, as there is not point lighting them up for 12 hours or so. 10 hours is maximum, any more and hair algae will start to grow like a weed, unless you have no phosphate and no nitrate. When you do decide to get corals, keep you lighting at 9 hrs, as i said above thats the total requirement they need.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks guys.

Well im getting an Ro/DI unit, so my nitrates and phosphates should be as close to zero as possible, but stocking and skimmer production may change that. Rathern safe then sorry. Last thing i want is a major algae out break.


Anyways, thanks.
 
i have a question.. ( i dint know about photo periods) my lights are usually turned on from the evening(5 - 6) to the next morning say around 8 a.m my room doesnt get much sunlight and the tank isnt near the window. but im not getting hair algae growths or the film algae on the tank surfaces ... does this mean that my water parameters are good, or am i low in something ? its a fowler for now .. but im very interested in making it a reef. the tanks been up for about a month or so. thing is i believe i got the wrong info from my lfs about starting up my tank. i have problems with my pH lvl (it drops overnight), but the lfs told me i could already add fish .. and so far i have no problems with the fish and even my anemones from my older tank. i tink my pH problem has gone away, but i recently ran out of pH tester.. ( dont worry im getting more later today) but could this be a problem ? oh and ive been using kalk with my top ups to solve the pH problem.
 
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Well, it sounds as if your parameters are good. can you tell us your nitrates and phosphates, normally algae is grown because of them. Also is coralline algae growing? And are you saying that in the daytime you lights are off, but a night they are turned on? if so i would recommend changing the time of your lights, the fish and corals should have a period of darkness, and the lights can be turned on at say 11 AM, and then turned off at 8 Pm or maybe a bit later. Otherwise the anemone and fish may get stressed.
 
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