Cycling process use lights or not?

[fran-cyber]

hi all, i just have a small seawater aquarium,
I want to ask,

- does the cycling process have to use lights?

- how long is the correct cycling process?

 

[superwheat]

I did mine without light, just be papered for diatom when you turn the lights on.

 

[Timfish]

Yes you want lights, getting the algae going, and I feel also hte corals, is an importan part of cycling and then the maturing of a reef ecossytem. You may find these links informative:

Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock

Studying the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium shows that high-quality live rock promotes the rapid establishment of an effective biological filter and a microbial community similar to those found in mature reef tanks.

www.reef2reef.com

"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas"

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont

BActeria and Sponges

Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)

Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching

Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"

 

[NowGlazeIT]

If using dry rock no lights as long as your patience with allow

 

[Addictedreefer87]

I would run lights and get everything over with at the same time. Other wise you'll probably deal with an algae cycle ugly phase when you decide to turn them on after your cycle. Just my two cents.