AQUARIUM

reef tank lighting?

Hi, I have a question on my lighting on my reef tank i just started a few weeks ago, I know the lighting is differant then my 75 gallon fish only tank,
My question is i have a coralife light thats 48 inches long and its 432 watt with # t-5 bulbs with lunar light , my question is how long should i have them on, i know the blue light or uv light should come on first and go off last , i have then set an hour apart to come on and go off and i have had them timed on and of for 13 hrs i`m starting to get some brown alge build up and im thinking its coming from the lights being on to long , please let me know what you think , i have live rock live sand cleaner shrimp turbo snails one fire shrimp and then my fish and coral

First off you need to look at the corals you are going to keep. Most corals require 12-14 hours of lighting to thrive. I turn mine on in my reef tank when I get up and they don’t go off until I go to bed (in excess of 16 hours per day) It is always better to have more light than not enough. 12-14 is a good and required range for most.

Also, as with your brown algae, no worries unless it is taking over. Remember removing too much from the tank is not allowing the good stuff like silicates to enhabit the tank. your corals as well as many other creatures need this silicate in the tank to be healthy. 2ppm-5pmm. Also your ammonia at .05 nitrates 5ppm (You never want to go higher than 40 with the nitrates) other items like boron should be around <10. Some test kits do not test for some of these.

Annemone also need various amounts of light so you don't want to CUT the light if you have these in the tank

Here is a slide show of my reef tank.

http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/Fishqueen_2000/?action=viewwidgets

SW Rebuild – Part 5 – New Pump

18W UV Bulb TwinTube for Coralife Turbo Twist 6x $16.21

9W UV Light Bulb FOR Coralife-Turbo-Twist Sterilizer $12.04

Coralife Replacement Lamp – Pl Type 36 Watt For Turbo $69.99

9W 9 watt UV UVC Bulb for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x $12.04

(Lot of 4 Bulbs), 9W UV for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x ESU $33.60

Coralife Turbo-Twist 1″ X 1.25″ Tee Hose Tube Fitting $3.29

Coralife Turbo-Twist 1″ Hose Tube Locking Tee Fitting $3.29

Coralife Turbo-Twist 5/8″ Hose Tube Locking Tee Fitting $3.29

Coralife Turbo-Twist 5/8″ x 1′ Hose Tube Fitting $3.29

2pcs/LOT, 9 watt UV Bulbs for Coralife-Turbo-Twist-3x $15.08

36W 36 watt UV Bulb Coralife Turbo Twist 12x Sterilizer $20.99

18W |18-watt| UV Bulb Lamp |2G11 4pin Base| for Coralife Turbo Twist 6x Model $17.85

2-X 9Watt 120V Bulbs for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x ESU $14.96

(2 9 Watt UV Bulbs) for Coralife Turbo Twist – 6 1/2″ $15.03

2pcs 9W, Ultraviolet for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x, Unit $15.67

2x 9W 120Volt UV Bulbs for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x ESU $15.49

9W UVC Bulbs, for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x, 6 1/2″ Long $15.07

2x 9W 130Volt, UV Bulbs for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x ESU $15.40

2-x 9W 120V UV Bulbs for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x ESU $15.74

9W (G23/Base) UVC Bulb ESU Coralife-Turbo-Twist-3x $7.61

18W 18 watt UV Bulb Lamp for Coralife Turbo Twist 6x $16.98

Coralife Turbo Sea $49.99

Coralife Turbo-Twist 6X 18 Watt UV Sterilizer $26.99

36W 36 Watt UV Bulb Lamp For Coralife Turbo-Twist UV $18.88

Coralife Turbo-Twist 3x 9 watt UV sterilizer eliminates unwanted organisms $85.00

Two 36W 36 Watt UV Bulb Lamp For Coralife Turbo-Twist $29.99

9/Watt UV Bulb ESU Coralife Turbo Twist – G23 Base $9.19

9W – G23 Base – UV Bulb Coralife Turbo Twist 3x ESU $7.32

2pcs 9W 9 WATT UV Bulbs for Coralife Turbo Twist 3x ESU $9.44

Coralife Turbo-Twist 1 Inch Hose Locking T Connector W $4.39

CORALIFE LOCKING T CONNECTOR 5/8″ FOR HOSE TURBO TWIST FREE SHIPPING TO THE USA $6.99

Coralife Replacement Lamp – Pl Type 36 Watt Turbo twist $35.00

Coralife Turbo-Twist 6X 18W UV sterilizer lamp bulb replacement Kit with O-ring $33.95

Genuine Coralife Turbo-Twist 3X 9W UV sterilizer lamp bulb replacement $22.80

18W 18 Watt 2G11 UV Bulb for Coralife Turbo Twist 6x Lamp $15.99

Coralife Aquarium Turbo Twist 3X 9W WATT UV Sterilizer $54.50

18W 18 Watt UV Bulb 2G11-Base for Coralife Turbo Twist 6x 2-Lamps $24.00

New 36W 36 Watt UV Bulb Lamp For Coralife Turbo-Twist $18.88

9-WATT-UV Bulb ESU Coralife Turbo Twist 3x UVC $7.34