Reducing Lighting

[ShinySideUp]

I have found that despite the two tubes in my lighting system adding up to 80 watts, nearer 140 watts is being drawn presumably through losses in the control unit. Whatever the cause, I don't want to use that much electricity and to be honest I just don't want that much light. So to the electricians amongst you I ask -- can I remove one of the tubes and still run the other without causing any damage?

 

[`Peter]

Do you have a planted tank? If not there isn't much need to keep the light on as much for example if you have a cichlid and other freshwater tank with not many plants.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Do you have a planted tank? If not there isn't much need to keep the light on as much for example if you have a cichlid and other freshwater tank with not many plants.

The tank is lightly planted but still doesn't need as much light as it's getting.

 

[`Peter]

You can probably stick to 7-8 hours if its lightly planted and you don't have fast growing plants that demand a lot of light.