how long to run led lights

[Zachar16]

im new to the led lights an just getting back into the hobby of saltwater fish and coral and wanted to here some opinions on how long to run these lights for everyday right now i have a white blue 14000k led light with 55leds 30 white and 25 blue i have the timer set for blue at 1100am then white at 1130am then white shuts off at 1000pm and blue 1030pm, does anyone have advice as to whats best?

[Jarederaj]

I ran mine the same amount I would any other light. i would do 8-10 hours.. up to u

[specvjeff]

Here's how I would do it. Let your blues come on at 11:00am then your whites at 11:30am. I wouldn't run them as long as you are now. 8 hours is plenty. So at 7:30 have your whites shut off then at 8 have the blues shut off.


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[solefald]

So at 7:30 have your whites shut off then at 8 have the blues shut off.


but how do you enjoy your tank after 8 pm?

i have whites 4:30pm-8pm, blues 8pm-12am and 4 UV LEDs 12am-2am.
the only times when my lights are on at the same time is when they are dimming from one to another over 1 hour.

[Jarederaj]

agree with both you guys. why not just turn lights on at 2 and off at 10? or whenever you go to bed

[specvjeff]

If you want to enjoy the tank later in the day, start the photo period later. My lights don't come on till 2 pm and they shut off at 10pm. I was just using the times he provided as a starting point.


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[Zachar16]

thanks for the advice i think ill take it down to nine hours 1pm till 10pm

[phillyblunt]

I run mine 2 to ten as well. Works great.

Tapatalk

[LotsaFishies]

I'm running LED's on my personal reef tank.

I run mine:

6:30-9:30am
and
6:30-10:30pm

-lights are actually on when I'm home to enjoy them
-cuts out any heat during the hot part of the day (not an issue with LED's really)
-saves electricity during peak hours

[JohnnyAirtime]

thanks for the advice i think ill take it down to nine hours 1pm till 10pm

... I usually run 480watts over my 240gallon, and leave them on for up to 12hrs/day. On at noon, off at midnight.
But this is with each panel having specific abilities to turn on/off 4 circuits of color. White1/White2/Blue/Purple. I'd say, they used to get full intensity for about 9hrs. Yet, I scheduled the start of the LEDs to come on as;
11:30AM Purple
11:30AM Blue
12:00PM White1
1:00PM White2

And off;
9:00PM White2
11:00PM White1
12:00AM Blue
12:20AM Purple

I've recently been using dimmable LEDs on a controller.... much smoother transition, or ramping up and down for sunrise and sunset;
They start ramping up at 9AM and will ramp down to Moon Lights by 1AM. Full power is about 8-9hrs a day, even though the light cycle is 16hrs in total. Pretty cool feature.

... I hope that helps explain, what's worked for me... and may work for you.

There's no "best" option... but, what works for you and your tank. Each tank's needs are different. Each USER's needs are different. It all depends on when you'll be home to enjoy... and, for example where the tank resides (ie: if in your bedroom, nobody wants lights on when they are trying to sleep!). Ramping up and down the LEDs as best you can to simulate sunrise/sunset I think is important... not so much to stress over it, but I often see my corals closing up just before my lights start to ramp down. Pretty amazing how they get on the schedule of your lights... so set yours as best you can for them AND your enjoyment.

Adjust as necessary. ;)

[Zachar16]

thanks john

[scubasteve]

John knows his stuff! Props man- you are deep in this hobby! Lol :) one day.... I will be like you!

[JohnnyAirtime]

........ you are deep in this hobby! .............

Thanks fellas.... but Steve, you are correct... "DEEP" is getting out of hand. I woke up this morning wondering what I could sell all my livestock and equipment for... and if it'd be worth it (feeling the pain of unemployment, and my E.D.D. stopped paying last month!). So to hear nice comments... keeps me "in the game" that much longer. :D

[scubasteve]

Most insane thing I have ever seen when it comes to a "in house" aquarium! ;p I gotta take some pics to show my girl I am not "DEEP" in this hobby! Lol! Truly amazing!

[baldbean]

Blue LEDs ON - 11:00 am
White LEDs ON - 12:00 pm
White LEDs OFF - 8:00 pm
Blue LEDs OFF - 9:00 pm

For a total of 10 hours. Been thinking about changing to 9 hours.

[uxdesigner]

I've been having great growth with:

Blues on at: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Whites on at: 12:30 pm - 5:00pm