offminded

How important is it to cycle the light in a fowlr? In other words, how important is it to turn acticic lights on first and then the 10kk and then reverse the process for the evening? Is it bad to just turn them on in the morning and off in the night? I have yet to bit the bullet and buy a dual light timer...any thoughts?

Trio123

I do not know about how it affects corals, though I do kinda wonder if it does. FOWLR stands for "fish only with live rock" right? So it that question doesnt matter I guess But using the actinics will help to reduce the shock to the fish when the lights just blast on. They will often jump or hide when the light suddenly come on. You will have less nervous/stress fish if you gradually light the tank (at least light up the room first if you dont want to get another timer or dont have room on your plug). It also depends on the fish you have, some are more nervous than others. I had an arowana break a glass canopy because of the lights turning on suddenly.

offminded

yeah...fish only with live rock...i am going to bite the bullet and drop $50 or $60 on a dual light timer so that i can simulate the light cycle without having to sweat doing it manually

defcon11

I still haven't been able to bite that bullet, guess one thing at a time; just have to do it manually in the mean time.

offminded

i am having a hard time spending the money...i do it manually...i have one timer, but it is a pain to change the times

tango

i think its better to have to light timers set at two different times it works

offminded

one for actinic and one for 10kk?

tango

yup

NirvanaandTool

I have the coralife dual light timer for my T-5's on my reef tank. Works great.
Turns the actinics, 10ks on and off throughout the day and then turns the moonlights on at night. Great timer for the price.
As for the effect of the cycle, I probably wouldnt have 10k's on the whole day cause I know my T-5's caused a huge algae increase in my tank when my 10k's were on alot. But i dont think it really matters for the fish.