[Simplicity]

To save money on electical costs will my plants grow equally well if my photo period is from 6PM to 6AM, with CO2 during that time?

My fear is that the window light will affect the cycle and technically provide 24hrs of light :icon_sad: Any thoughts?

 

[2in10]

Nothing wrong with the night time photo period. Direct daylight to the tank would be a problem but I doubt there will be any problem with indirect daylight.

 

[somewhatshocked]

If you're not at home during the day and there's no one to be bothered by it... you could always drape a sheet or thick piece of fabric across your tank if you've got a lighting concern.

 

[reybie]

My photo period starts at night also. We're on the time of use plan. There's some light coming from the window but nothing to be concerned about.

 

[TactusMortus]

All of my tanks have a nightime photo period simply because that is when I am home to enjoy them. Also should mention if you are only doing it for energy savings I doubt you are going to see much a difference. These aquarium lights do not use nearly as much lighting as most people assume they do.

 

[redfishsc]

Agreed with the above. But do your fish a favor and keep the room as dark as possible during the day, otherwise they will all have that wild-eyed Christopher Lloyd look after a few days.

 

[bsmith]

No problem at all. I dont think there is a tank at my house that has its lights on until 6-8 PM.

 

[AirstoND]

Are electricity rates lower during non-peak hrs, so this could be another +roud:

 

[Doc7]

How long should a "night time darkness" period last?

If I can assume that on average throughout the year, 6:30 AM would be when the ambient daylight starts lighting up the room (through curtains), would a 7 hour (11:30 PM to 6:30 AM) "dark" period be OK? Can I go even later?

I want to move my photoperiod as late in the day as possible because I have very hard/alkaline water so the metals in micro-nutrients (iron etc) fall out of solution very quickly, so I'd like to be home from work and dosing as close to the beginning of the PP as possible... I recently have been reading that dosing at night after lights go out (my previous plan) probably means almost all of the metals in solution are now unavailable to plants by the time my lights come on 12 hours later.

 

[Naekuh]

id think you just keep the normal cycle.

it doesnt matter when you start and when you end, as long as you keep the cycle.


Its like if u were on the other side of the world, your cycle would start 12 hours early, why? because thats when the sun comes out.

If your playing god with enviorment, and you can control the sun, then there is no problem as long as u dont make the sun do crazy stuff like strobe.