lighting question

How scheduled do you guys generally keep your lighting times? I mean do you
have them on timers or do you religiously turn them on and off at designated
times?

I ask because I am bad with this at times.. Sometimes when my work permits I
am on a good schedule myself and can approximate the same times of lighting
every day.... Then work gets hectic at times and I have to stay late and/or
come in early and that goes down the tubes.

"Keester" <Keester311 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:or_fb.684512$YN5.542510@sccrnsc01...
> How scheduled do you guys generally keep your lighting times? I mean do
you
> have them on timers or do you religiously turn them on and off at
designated
> times?
>
> I ask because I am bad with this at times.. Sometimes when my work permits
I
> am on a good schedule myself and can approximate the same times of
lighting
> every day.... Then work gets hectic at times and I have to stay late
and/or
> come in early and that goes down the tubes.
>
>

My 2cents worth:
On my planted tank I have 4x4ft tubes. One turns on an 6.45am and off at
8.00pm, and the other three are on another timer that turns them on at
9.00am and off at 5.00pm, while I'm at work. This means that I can feed
them at around 7am and again at around 7pm with some light, and also means
that I don't have the full 160w on for 13hrs.

On my cichlid tank (just java fern and anubias nana ) the single 4ft goes on
at 6.45am then off at 9am, on again at 5pm and off at 8pm. Feeding times
the same and lights are on when I'm home, and off when not needed (no algae)

Obviously I'm sold on timers and use dig\ital ones with multiple programs..
Otherwise I'd be just like you....

Leong