Light Cycle Adjustments

[ReefCheif]

Until I can afford to make the jump to LEDs for the 180 gallon I need to find a way to reduce my light cycle to help alleviate these damn electric bills.

Im currently running a 180 gallon w/ two 250mh on left and right and a 400mh in the middle w/ 2 96 watt VHO actinics running the length on front and back. I currently run the 250s on a 9 hour schedule and the 400 fires up one half hour after the 250s and shut down one half hour before for a total of an 8 hour schedule. The VHOs fire up a half hour before the 250s and shut down a half hour after the 250 for a total light cycle of 10 hours.

Heres the schedule in a nut shell

10am - moon lights off, VHOs come on
10:30am - Both 250w MH comes on
11am - 400w MH comes on
7pm - 400w MH shuts off
7:30pm - Both 250w MH shut off
8pm - VHOs off, moonlight come on

Strange times I know, but they coincide with my work schedule, if that explains that!

Ive been running this same light schedule for the past year and a half so Im scared to change it, but Ive got to do something to take the electricity cost down until I can take the dive to LED. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dbarnes]

When i had halides i only ran them four hours a day, i had fantastic growth. I then had my secondary lighting on for the rest of the lighting cycle. Your burning ALOT of power!

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[cdrewferd]

Instead of running the 400 for 8 hours, you could drop that to around 4. The corals right under it will probably take a hit though.


Drew

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[ReefCheif]

I know Im buring alot of power, thats my issue, but Im seeing alot fo growth as well, thats my delimma. Should I slowly drop off the lighting from the MH or should I just cut it down all at once?

@Dbarnes - so your saying I should run my VHOs for the entire light cycle and just the MH for a short period in the middle? Should I ramp up the VHOs by adding a couple more bulbs?

 

[reefmaster719]

You should start selling your metal halides on craigslist and get some leds. I can't even imagine what your electric bill must be.

 

[Dbarnes]

Thats what i did, but cut back slowly and a doubt u see any change in growth rates. What size tank do u have?

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[ReefCheif]

You should start selling your metal halides on craigslist and get some leds. I can't even imagine what your electric bill must be.

Ummm, would need the LEDs first, cant have a tank with no lights.

 

[ReefCheif]

Thats what i did, but cut back slowly and a doubt u see any change in growth rates. What size tank do u have?

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180gal DT, 300gal total water volume. Your pink tail triggers gonna love it.

 

[reefmaster719]

Sell them then buy them same day?

 

[ReefCheif]

How would you reccomend cutting back the lighting. 1/2 hour per day? per week?

 

[Dbarnes]

Yea he will especially after being in a 20gal qt tank for three weeks lol i think a four hour cycle is plenty and i had great success with it. What was the reasoning behind the one 400watt halide? I was just thinking if u changed to three 250's it would also greatly benefit the overall power consumption

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[ReefCheif]

No specific reason for the 400, was looking for as much light as possible for the SPS. I do have an extra 250 ballast and bulb, I could swap them out and then start cutting the light cycle.

 

[ReefCheif]

Yea he will especially after being in a 20gal qt tank for three weeks lol i think a four hour cycle is plenty and i had great success with it. What was the reasoning behind the one 400watt halide? I was just thinking if u changed to three 250's it would also greatly benefit the overall power consumption

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Why has he been in QT? Not being a menace is he?

 

[Dbarnes]

Yea i would start there, he is in QT cuz i dont want to have to pull him from my tank lol

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