Light during cycling process

[ElitePirate]

Hello,

I read a lot of online articles and getting a lot of mixed reviews. One said I should not have any light setup during this cycling process because bacteria growth will be higher when its dark. However, another article telling me that i should use 10-12hours light.. which one is true/best?

#reefsquad

 

[James M]

It’s all personal preference
Some say the lights will cause more algae to grow during the algae bloom and you save on ur power bill. I leave them on

 

[ElitePirate]

Thanks, It's not gonna cost much at all. I mean just few $$ so i don't mind leaving on but not sure if it will cause any issues or not

 

[Coralreefer1]

I would turn your lights on for an 8 hour duration varying the intensity. I don’t know what you plan on keeping and what kind of light regimen you plan on but I would do this.

 

[ElitePirate]

I would turn your lights on for an 8 hour duration varying the intensity. I don’t know what you plan on keeping and what kind of light regimen you plan on but I would do this.

its a very small tank and gonna keep 1-2 clowns with a shrimp, hermit and few other zoas thats all. Light wise its not professional light. just a LED

 

[Mr Fishface]

I think I left my lights on during the cycle. I was so excited and keeping the lights on would let me pretend of having fish haha.

 

[Coralreefer1]

As for the algae bloom with having your lights on during the cycle, or not, it’s inevitable that you will have it eventually.

 

[ElitePirate]

yup thats true

 

[ScottR]

If you have sand, you’ll most likely get a diatom bloom down the line and starting lighting now will help them to live out their life cycle a bit faster.

 

[Katrina71]

I cycled with lights on. My uglies were pretty short lived.

 

[reefwiser]

It doesn't effect bacteria so many miss conceptions people have. I would just leave it off the lights as there is not much need for them. But if you want to just sit and watch the rocks enjoy.

 

[Lasse]

It depends on IMO. If you do the cycle with fish as ammonium source you can start with CUC directly, hence important to have light on - you need the Algae for the CUC. If you do the cycle with high ammonia input or rotten shrimp - you can't introduce a CUC, hence leave the light off until your water can have life in it (CUC). If no CUC - no light. If CUC - light on.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Idoc]

I don't see any purpose for having the lights on during a cycle. It will only promote algae growth that can't be controlled since you don't have a cuc in there yet. But, if you're starting with bacteria in a bottle, then no problem...add a cuc to handle that algae. But, if you are doing a natural cycle for at least 30 days, then you can't add that cuc yet and your algae could be a huge mess by the time thou can even add a snail. But again, lights aren't needed for the cycle, so I don't see a purpose in it.

 

[ScottR]

I don't see any purpose for having the lights on during a cycle. It will only promote algae growth that can't be controlled since you don't have a cuc in there yet. But, if you're starting with bacteria in a bottle, then no problem...add a cuc to handle that algae. But, if you are doing a natural cycle for at least 30 days, then you can't add that cuc yet and your algae could be a huge mess by the time thou can even add a snail. But again, lights aren't needed for the cycle, so I don't see a purpose in it.

What about diatoms? Do you think that waiting it out to add lights will prolong the diatom bloom? I’ve always cycled with lights on to get them out of the way.

 

[ElitePirate]

Thanks for all these input everyone. Even though there are 100s of articles online this is why I always ask my questions here. To get real life answers from experienced reefers

Once again thank you.

 

[Idoc]

What about diatoms? Do you think that waiting it out to add lights will prolong the diatom bloom? I’ve always cycled with lights on to get them out of the way.

Well, diatoms are self-limiting anyhow...they are going to come and go eventually no matter when you start your lights. I actually didn't have my diatom bloom until several months after my cycle was complete. But, two days after turning on my lights after the cycle, my rocks were green with algae...which I was able to combat quickly with a CUC that I had in quarantine and ready to go. If I didn't have that CUC ready in quarantine, I couldn't imagine how bad that algae would have gotten.

 

[BestMomEver]

You’re likely to have algae whether you run lights or not. I would turn them on but for 6-8 hours a day. That way you can study your tank. You can watch water flow or make sure your aquascaping is perfect. It’s hard to do that in the dark.

 

[Lasse]

You’re likely to have algae whether you run lights or not. I would turn them on but for 6-8 hours a day. That way you can study your tank. You can watch water flow or make sure your aquascaping is perfect. It’s hard to do that in the dark.

Its right that you always will grow algae when the light is on but if you wait till you can add a disent CUC - you will not have any algae problem. That´s one of the reasons why I use the small NH3/NH4 input from a fish in the cycling because it allow me to introduce a CUC already the first days and make a fast start of the tanks macro and microlife - and I can see my fish

Sincerely Lasse