Mixing led and T5ho lights

Bolsen27 · 10-14-2012, 12:29 AM

Hey gang. Quick question.

Is it okay to to run my Nova extreme slr 48w T5ho (with zoomed flora sun and ultra sun bulbs) from say 7a to 5p then have them go off and switch to a marineland hidden led light strip for light until like 9p then turn on the blue light until midnight? Tank would be unlit overnight.

My wife hates that during the evening she can't easily see in the tank. So she wants to extend the time that I leave the light on. I don't want algae problems so I have been telling her no. Currently I run the main light for 10 hours then it goes off and the blue LEDs come on until midnight, then it's completely dark.

FYI tank is a 20 gal tall and the fixture is 4 inches above the glass top.

Knotyoureality · 10-14-2012, 06:15 AM

I do this sort of thing with my tanks pretty often--big light on a limited photo period for plant growth, with a weak light (led or otherwise) that just produces illumination on either end.

When I was running a nova extreme T5HO on my 37g, the low light was a marineland single bright LED---whites were plenty to provide viewing and the blue "moonlight" affect was nice as things wound down in the late evening, but neither provided enough light to affect plant (or algae!) growth.

10-14-2012, 12:29 AM	#1
Bolsen27 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Williamstown nj Posts: 55	Mixing led and T5ho lights Hey gang. Quick question. Is it okay to to run my Nova extreme slr 48w T5ho (with zoomed flora sun and ultra sun bulbs) from say 7a to 5p then have them go off and switch to a marineland hidden led light strip for light until like 9p then turn on the blue light until midnight? Tank would be unlit overnight. My wife hates that during the evening she can't easily see in the tank. So she wants to extend the time that I leave the light on. I don't want algae problems so I have been telling her no. Currently I run the main light for 10 hours then it goes off and the blue LEDs come on until midnight, then it's completely dark. FYI tank is a 20 gal tall and the fixture is 4 inches above the glass top.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-14-2012, 06:15 AM	#2
Knotyoureality Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 739	I do this sort of thing with my tanks pretty often--big light on a limited photo period for plant growth, with a weak light (led or otherwise) that just produces illumination on either end. When I was running a nova extreme T5HO on my 37g, the low light was a marineland single bright LED---whites were plenty to provide viewing and the blue "moonlight" affect was nice as things wound down in the late evening, but neither provided enough light to affect plant (or algae!) growth.