Different Light Periods?

[injektion]

i'm setting up a new 135 gallon tank and i plan on using 3 x 250w mh lights with supplementary t5 actinics. my plan is to plug the individual metal halides into different timers so that they turn on at different times during the day, probably first one at 8 am, second at 10 am, and last one at 12 pm, to replicate a more gradual and natural light intensity during the day. they would also turn off at different times, first going off at 4 pm, second at 6 pm, and last one at 8 pm. the actinics would turn on at 12pm until 10 or 11 pm.

are there any issues with my plans or is it ok? any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated

 

[simonas]

I thinik your idea is agood one although your time periods may be too long, I found that with my reef algae grows far too much if the lights are on too long and its a mare cleaing the glass as often as I do
You'll work it out for yourself with your individual tanks needs

 

[seffieuk]

Woo hoo a new tank

The plan is a solid one, a lighting period of 12 hours sounds good in principle but can bring problems,so I would probably look to more like 10 hours and then moonlights till bed

Seffie x

 

[injektion]

sounds good, thanks for the advice.

i'll dial down on the duration so that it runs at 9am, 10:30am, 12pm, until 3pm, 5:30pm, 7pm respectively.

any suggestions for the t5 actinics? is 12pm to 10pm alright or do i not really need to have them on for so long? i ask this because i'm wondering if the actinics serve any purpose towards coral health and growth or if it's just for giving them a more fluorescent look

i also plan on getting led moonlights but that's really just a treat for me

 

[-Nemo-]

I don't have actinics on my tank and have seen no negative impact on the corals.