Can I run MH alone for 8 hours?

C

Curtis

I'm in the middle of replacing my PC with MH for my reef tank. I guess I haven't done enough research as I found one site that recommended leaving the MH on for only 3-4 hours in the middle of the day and running VHOs 3-4 hours before and after.

Is this necessary for the safety of the inhabitants? Can I just run the MH for 8 hours until I buy VHO/T5s?

What are my risks? Just higher temperature and higher electric bills?

If I need the other lights... WTB 24" VHO/T5 with ballasts. :)

Thanks
Curtis
 
i run mine 10 hours per day. 2 400w MH's.

definitely have the higher $$$ electricity and heat problem, but the inhabitants cope fine.
 
If you are putting metal halides over the tank for the first time and you are replacing some light that was a lot less powerfull, you will need some break in period. You have to acclimate the corals to the new more intense light or you can burn them. You need to use the new light for a small time and then move up the time you have it on over a few weeks or a month. Or you could use a screen material in layers over the tank and remove it a layer at a time each week until it all gone. It all depends on big a change it will be from the old lights to the new metal halides in the PAR rating.
 
yeah i heard the same thing you will get good results with only mh running for 4 to 5 hours and using vho and t5 for the rest of the period. I am trying it now and dont see any difference when I was running the mh for 8 hours a day
 
Rick,
Fortunately, the amount of change is very small. going from 130 W PC to 175W MH.

I will eventually move up to 350W MH (by adding a second bulb)

I'm still staging the transfer by running my PC for a couple of hours, then the MH for 4 hours, back to the PC.

But I only planned on doing that this weekend as it requires that teh PC fixture be removed.

Thanks for the advice all,
Curtis
 
The PAR level between 130 watts PCs and 175 watt Metal Halides is probably a little more than you think. Not significantly, but still I would bet nearly double. If the bulbs that are VHO or T-5s are actinic they do nothing for corals as far as photosynthesis. But with enough light source for the corals and clams or other photosynthetic creatures to get their photosynthetic needs, you probably could get away with leaving the lights on for only 5 hours. I just want to be able to see my reef tank for a longer period than that and not just under actinic lighting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top