New tank lighting

[Nubias]

Hi all,

Currently running a 6 hour lighting period with a tank in its first week. At what point should I increase?

I was thinking maybe up to 7 hours in the second week and 8 in the third. Then maybe about the fifth week experiment up to 9-10 hours.

Also what disadvantages are there to a split in lighting times? I.e a Friday or Saturday (or every day) when I’m likely to view more at night? Turn off for say 4 hours during the day to extend evening hours?

 

[techfool]

It really does depend v much on your individual tank, what the plants are, the stocking level, and your maintenance.
My main tank was doing quite well but I didn't factor in the summer sunlight and had gotten very lazy with maintenance. It caused my hygro to choke out everything else. When I pruned the hygro back, I had very little left 😱(
I've another tank which is pretty much in the dark all day, with crappy LED lighting that I put on for about 5 hours a day if that. The plants in there grow very slowly but are nice and strong. No algae.
I think consistency is key. When I went on holiday and left the plants to fend for themselves all my watersprite died.
You have to try it for yourself and see what happens.

 

[Edvet]

I would do 6 weeks for each increase. Plants need time to adjust. Faster is possible, but why risk problems.

 

[Zeus.]

Also what disadvantages are there to a split in lighting times? I.e a Friday or Saturday (or every day) when I’m likely to view more at night? Turn off for say 4 hours during the day to extend evening hours?

Not sure! Your talking about having different on/off times for different days but the same photoperiod length for each day ?

 

[Nubias]

Sorry yeah changing the time but same photoperiod

 

[Zeus.]

Well in nature we have some days with blue skys all day and other days overcast all day, others vary so the main photoperiod on day my be 10am to 2pm then the next day is 2pm to sunset. So I would say plants are use to changing conditions but thats just my opinion OFC