Lights on at night vs. Day

[freezetyle]

i know quite a few people who work most of the day and have their lights come on around 2-4pm and have them turn off around midnight. they run/look great, plus you would get some more viewing time.

[MKLKT]

As long as it's consistent it shouldn't matter too much for the time frame you use. Personally my tank is near a bay window and gets a bit of residual light from the outside even when the tank lights are off and I haven't had any livestock issues.

[Aquaria]

If it helps I worked night shift for 2 years 4pm- 2am and I had the lights on from 9pm-8am tank was fine fish and coral adjusted good and I noticed no ill effects

[mark]

maybe not truly night but my since set up the tank been running actinics around 11:00am-11:30pm and the MH 1:00-9:00PM

[Nebthet]

I run my 57g tank from 5pm to 2:35am.
5pm - actinics on
6:45pm - All other lights on/4 day bulbs
1:15am - All other lights off/4 day bulbs
2:35am - actincs off

My 20L is run from 6:30pm-2:45am
6:30-7:15pm - 2 All Royal Blue par bulbs only
7:15pm-2am - 3 main par bulbs only
2am-2:45am - 2 All Royal Blue par bulbs only

I have seen no adverse affects to the corals or fish, even when they are fist purchased. Like all others, it takes a day or two for them to acclimate to the water conditions.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Not a problem. Actually better for you in the summer if overheating is an issue since your lights would be on during the "cool" of night. Its called reverse photoperiod and I've been doing it for years when the temp outside goes up in the summer.

[burtonpj48]

I cant see it being a problem. If you think about it, the live stock was transfered to north amererica from various parts of the world. In asia the times are about 12-16 hrs ahead. the live stock had to adjust, when it was shipped here, to your local fish stores.