Ok with lights off for 3 days? Or do I really need a timer ... worried.

[Sandee]

I might be going away for 3 days - ok to leave the the LEDs on the reef tank, or will the coral die (be unhappy) by the time I return? Do I really need a timer ... I've just heard horror stories about them catching fire. Sure, not everyone will go up in flames, but I'm still worried. Advice? Tnx! Oh, what about feeding - I'm thinking 3 days is fine ... some of you guys only feed once a week! OMG!

For the Freshwater tanks, I've left the lights off - never had a problem, they all do fine.

 

[Baxreefs]

Sandee

I am big on timed light just to give the corals consistency. But three days, you may see some color loss short term, but they should recover. Some folks do 3 day blackouts to control algea.

 

[tbone212371]

I would use a timer if you have corals...
If fish only then I wouldn't worry about it..
You can use an inexpensive timer like for 8 bucks...
I use timers on both my tanks...
It is so much easier...
Plus I like to go on vacation alot... LOL...

 

[chaoscat]

I've used standard plug-in timers to control lights on all my tanks for years, fresh and salt water. Never had a problem. But if you are nervous about possible fires, you can buy a GFCI Tap. This would plug into your electrical outlet and your timer would plug into it. (or you could just permanently install a GFCI in the wall)This way, should a dangerous short condition develop in your timer, the GFCI would trip and cut power to it.

I rewired my house outlets around all my aquariums to permanently install GFCI outlets. There was a post on Reef Central last year about a guy who lost his house. The suspected culprit was a short in a tank heater. That put the fear of fire into me. The GFCI's are just a good idea in general. Let's face it. You're sticking a bunch of electrical devices in water, many of which are manufactured in China. We know now how careful they are about food....

 

[Phyl]

The timers you get at home depot are fine. It is the ones from Coralife that you need to worry about (timer strips).

 

[Jenn]

The timers you get at home depot are fine. It is the ones from Coralife that you need to worry about (timer strips).

Hi Phil,

I'm using that timer strip from coralife... Is it faulty and bad to use?

What if I have that timer strip plugged into a GFI outlet , then am I safe?


Hey sandee,

It's so convient for me to have to lights turn on & off with the timer

but... safty first !

Have a fun trip

 

[Sandee]

... I'm all for modern conveniences, but running up and down 2 flights of stairs - well, that's about all the exercise I get, so!

 

[repo man]

i use the cora life timer with mh and pc lights i have not had a prob. yet i have seen a thread on here with people saying they catch fire i want to change to homedepot timers just have had no time to get them thats what we pay home owners insurance for

 

[Baxreefs]

Sandy

If you prefer a tank sitter, I am close.

Baxter

 

[magic]

The timers you get at home depot are fine. It is the ones from Coralife that you need to worry about (timer strips).

Hi Phil,

I'm using that timer strip from coralife... Is it faulty and bad to use?

What if I have that timer strip plugged into a GFI outlet , then am I safe?


Hey sandee,

It's so convient for me to have to lights turn on & off with the timer

but... safty first !

Have a fun trip

Jenn

I'm the one that posted about the Coralife timer strip fire. If you had the strip connected to a GFI it would trip if the strip shorted, the problem would be any combustible material around it being ignited. Play it safe and get rid of it. I was lucky that it shorted when I was standing next to it. Mine would have burned down my house if it happened in the day and I don't even want to think of it shorting in the middle of the night!

Bob
Bob

 

[Jenn]

wow Bob, Good to know

I'll have to get rid of it then.

Funny you think you buy the better expensive timer strip &

their the ones shorting out .

I guess the plastic peg timmers are the way to go.

... I'm all for modern conveniences, but running up and down 2 flights of stairs - well, that's about all the exercise I get, so!

I bet you can't sit still with all your little fish friends.
There so much fun to watch
I'm always watching my tanks

 

[Sandee]

One more question. Can I leave the LED lights on all day and night?

 

[Baxreefs]

I used to do that on my old 26 and never saw any adverse issues. No big advantage to running them 24/7 either. I did finally hook up a timer, but it was really not worth the fuss IMO. The handful you're running don't really add heat.