How could plants handle this light schedule?

How could my aquarium plants handle this lighting schedule? Because of the heat that the light produces, I would rather to set one light on for 8 hours of the day and the other set on for 8 hours of the day, which are largely non-overlapping hours. Would this still be the same as running them together? It will reduce temp fluctuations for the fish

 

What kind of a light is it that it produces so much heat? Isn't the heat directed upwards and away from the water?

 

220W of T5. it sits directly on the aquarium top- of course above the versa top. 75G

 

Yeah, I can see how that might cause some heat Have you checked your thermometer though to see how much, if any, it affects the temperature in your tank? Having metal "fins" on top of the light unit can also help to dissipate the heat upwards, and adding a fan to move the air around the tank might help as well.

 

it probably adds about 4 degrees during the hottest of the day, is that ok for the fish? this is unless I make my place really cool

 

Is that from the light alone or do you mean that the temperature is 4 degrees higher with the light vs. without the light at the hottest point of the day?

 

I mean if I turn them both on with my temperature of my place at 76 it takes my tank up to like 81 vs 78 with my place at 70. So really it is 3 degrees

 

What about having a split photperiod? 3 or 4 hours on in the morning, off through the day, then on again in the evening for 3 or 4 hours?

 

I won't be home and I can only set each light set by one time. I have two different sets

 

Get two timers! They're super cheap, I've even seen them at dollar stores