Am I running my lights for too long and losing color?

[Brad Villeggiante]

I run my 250 watt 10k xm bulb 10 hrs a day

I run my 2 of my vho actinics for 11 hrs a day and my other 2 vho actinics for 12 hrs a day.

This is over a 40 gallon tank.

What do you recommend cutting my lighting back too? Do you think a shorter photoperiod will help with coral coloration?

[Diesel3443]

Im run my 400w 5hrs a day no more actinic is 12 hr

[Diesel3443]

Brad if your color is washed out than yes cut down your photo period

[Brad Villeggiante]

Yeah, color appears to be washing out. What would you cut my photoperiod too?

[OUinLA]

Lower it by two hours, then wait a week, lower it anothe 2 hours and see how the corals respond.

[DMK]

i used to run my MH 10hrs/day w/ VHO actinics 12/day. i lowered MH to 6hrs/day and noticed better coloration. i would say u can't go wrong w/ 6hrs/day. right now i'm only at 4 since i'm acclimating a new RBTA. i will probably only go back to 5 or 6 a day w/ MH leaving VHO actinics at 12-13hrs a day.

[DMK]

also what ballast r u using? i use a PFO dual HQI ballast. no need for more than 6-7hrs a day w/ this ballast. it really overburns bulbs.

[Brad Villeggiante]

I am running a standard electronic ballast I believe it is also reffered to as a M58.

[fkadir]

6-7 hours a day of 250W MHs seems to do it for most tanks that are nutrient poor. Assuming the bulbs you have running have high levels of PAR (typically 10kk or 14kk).. 20kk bulbs will need to run longer due to their inherent lower PAR levels. IMHO.

[CAReefer]

Brad, if your ballast is electronic, it cannot be an M58. M58 is a standard magnetic core ballast and thus, not an e-ballast.

[Brad Villeggiante]

Opps, thats what I meant to say. Thanks for the correction.