Reducing Photo Period

[bobf]

Presently my tank looses around 3-4 litres of water a day to evaporation under twin 125w halides, which isn't a big deal to me as I top up each day and do a 25% change every couple of weeks anyway.

Thing is we're away on hols soon for a couple of weeks and a neigbor will be on feeding duties. Just wondered what would be a 'safe' period to reduce the halide lighting to, to reduce the evaporation and the need for top ups? (The neigbor is an older fella and I don't want to put him to too much trouble)

At present we have the halides on about 10hrs a day with actinics running an extra hour either side.

The only livestock likely to object to leaving the halides being off completely is (I guess) a BTA. All corals are softies (xenia, toadstools, ricordia and mushies) so I guess they wont mind too much if I leave the halides off altogether, with just the actinics running for a few hours a day?

 

[superman]

One of the biggest causes of tank crashes while people are on vacation is that they change an aspect of their aquarium in preparation for the vacation just before they leave for vacation. Don't change it without being around to observe your tank regularly.

 

[kkyyllee]

what would be a safe amount?-none if your worried about evap youll need an ATO

 

[bobf]

what would be a safe amount?-none if your worried about evap youll need an ATO

I'm not worried about evaporation to any great extent - just want to reduce a little for a period. Obviously I'll leave RO water for top-ups, but just trying to minimise hassle for my neigbor, thats all.

The question I'm asking is to what extent can the photo period be reduced without it being an issue for the Bubble Tipped Anemonae - reducing the time the halides are lit will reduce evaporation to a degree but don't want to go too far.

One of the biggest causes of tank crashes while people are on vacation is that they change an aspect of their aquarium in preparation for the vacation just before they leave for vacation. Don't change it without being around to observe your tank regularly.

Thanks SM - I wasn't just planning to pull the plugs out and go!

Just wanted to know what experience folk have in reducing lighting period, and to what degree it can be done without any ill effects. I have a month or so to play with so can move progressively to a shorter period, but if aiming for 6 hours (say) is a non starter I'd sooner know that first.

Thanks all.

 

[kkyyllee]

it depends on lighting and the anemone u would have to slowly decrease ur lighting schedule to see what works best thers no way to know what it wants

 

[bobf]

it depends on lighting and the anemone u would have to slowly decrease ur lighting schedule to see what works best thers no way to know what it wants

Thanks kk, thats exactly my point - just wondered if anyone has already gone through this 'experiment' and has an idea what the minimum 'time on' requirements might be.

Not planning to jump from ten hours to 1 (or none), just want to find out if there's no point trying to get below x, whatever x might be?

 

[superman]

What is your specific lighting set up and where is the anemone located exactly in your aquarium? The worst case scenario is that your anemone is already in a spot where it is barely getting enough light, and once you start to lessen the photoperiod it may go on the move and end up stinging everything in your tank. Good to hear that you weren't gonna just change things quickly and go on vacation.

 

[SkiFletch]

IMO, 6 hours would be just fine. My reef shop keeps its BTA's under 6 hours worth of 175watt halides and they do fantastic.

 

[bobf]

IMO, 6 hours would be just fine. My reef shop keeps its BTA's under 6 hours worth of 175watt halides and they do fantastic.

Thanks Ski and SM - I mentioned the lighting set up in my first post - twin 125w halides plus twin 55w actinics.

I'll start reducing to around 6 hours then as that should mean evaporation is reduced to more manageable levels.

The BTA lives pretty close to the floor level in the tank and wandered down to that point some months ago. He and his resident clowns and porcelein crab seem settled where they are, so guess we'll be okay.

Thanks all

Pic here I posted in another thread.

 

[superman]

what fixture are the MH bulbs in? Since the anemone is not sitting towards teh top of the tank right now, then there should be some margin to play with. I wouldn't drop the photoperiod faster than a half an hour a week though.