Just bought some timers for my lights and...

[Subliminal]

Hey guys,

I just bought some timers and here's my deal:

I have the Current Nova Extreme t5 setup which has:
4 LED Moonlights (on one power cord)
2 10k T5 Bulbs (on another power cord)
2 Blue T5 bulbs (on another power cord)
Fan (on another power cord

Here's my proposition, but I wanted to run it by you guys first, just to make sure someone doesn't have a better idea.

I'm going to plug the LEDs in full-time. I don't see any reason why they should be turned off during the day.

I'm going to run the fan and the blue lights on one timer

I'm going to run the 10k bulbs on another timer.

I'm thinking that I'll make the blue/fan on from 10-7

I'm thinking that the 10k bulbs can come on from 11-6

Any thoughts? Adjustments? Things I just plain missed?

THANKS!

I'm trying to take the human error out of the equation with the lighting.

 

[JohnS_323]

I'm not sure what hours you're home but assuming you're talking about lighting the tank between 10a and 7pm and you have something like a 9 to 5 job, you really won't get to enjoy the tank much. We have ours staggered sort of like you're suggesting but the hours are between 4p and 1a so that we get the most enjoyment out of it.

JM2C.

 

[Subliminal]

That's actually not a bad idea. I was thinking of the wife factor. She gets mad when the light is so bright and we're trying to sit down to dinner. She usually makes me turn them off...lol. Oh well.

The time frame and running the 10ks and the blues all day together seem like the right scheme, though?

 

[RichT]

You'll want to run the fans whenever the t5's are on. The reduction in heat dramatically increases both the intensity and life expectancy of the bulbs from what I've read.

 

[Subliminal]

Yeah, that's why i figured I'd put the fan on the same timer as the blues, so that the fan comes on first and goes off last.

Right now the fan is just running 24 hrs a day and it's annoying.

 

[bone]

one of the best things I every purchased from a Reefkeeper

 

[Treadingwater]

Do your blues run hot? On my pc's the fan comes on only when the 10k's are on since the blues really don't give off much heat at all.

 

[Subliminal]

Yeah, mine aren't nearly as hot as the 10ks, either. I figured I'd put the fans on before the heat and leave them on after, though with the blues.

Alright, I think i'm set...thanks!