Lighting during cycling

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Hello again....so I'm aware that I shouldn't run the tank light at all or very minimal less than 4 hrs a day during tank cycling. Does this also count towards my sump? I have live algae in there chaeto, grape algae, sea lettuce etc that I would hate to see die because of not turning on the light.

Help!

Thanks.

 

[Timfish]

Persoanlly I don't understand the reasoning behind lowering lights. A reef ecosystem adapts to the amount of lihgt available. Changing the amount of light available forces the system and animals to adapt to different environmental conditions that will favor some and be a hindrence to others. I'd set the lights initially to the levels and lighting period they are going to be for the animals I am adding to the system.

 

[Lavey29]

Hello again....so I'm aware that I shouldn't run the tank light at all or very minimal less than 4 hrs a day during tank cycling. Does this also count towards my sump? I have live algae in there chaeto, grape algae, sea lettuce etc that I would hate to see die because of not turning on the light.

Help!

Thanks.

I recommend leaving lights off the first 4 months to allow your tank to develop biodiversity and microfauna before adding coral. Fish don't need light. A fuge in a new tank will be extremely difficult to maintain alive. Your tank is unstable and there is no nutrients for the fuge.

 

[V A R I A N T]

Hello again....so I'm aware that I shouldn't run the tank light at all or very minimal less than 4 hrs a day during tank cycling. Does this also count towards my sump? I have live algae in there chaeto, grape algae, sea lettuce etc that I would hate to see die because of not turning on the light.

Help!

Thanks.

Using a method of nutrient export while trying to establish nutrient exporting bacteria in a new tank during cycle seems counterproductive.

 

[Uncle99]

Hello again....so I'm aware that I shouldn't run the tank light at all or very minimal less than 4 hrs a day during tank cycling. Does this also count towards my sump? I have live algae in there chaeto, grape algae, sea lettuce etc that I would hate to see die because of not turning on the light.

Help!

Thanks.

Macro algae will die without light.

 

[DIFish]

BRS did a video on this and after they turned on the lights the ugly phase hit all the same. The ugly phase is gonna hit one way or another, so I would start the lights when you add fish. I feel like leaving them off is just delaying the inevitable.

 

[Lavey29]

BRS did a video on this and after they turned on the lights the ugly phase hit all the same. The ugly phase is gonna hit one way or another, so I would start the lights when you add fish. I feel like leaving them off is just delaying the inevitable.

True the ugly phases still come but are more manageable in a 4 month tank with more biodiversity and microfauna. I had a very easy maturing process with this my first year.GHA around 6 month and was able to eliminate it easily with standard methods and no chemicals.

 

[DIFish]

True the ugly phases still come but are more manageable in a 4 month tank with more biodiversity and microfauna. I had a very easy maturing process with this my first year.GHA around 6 month and was able to eliminate it easily with standard methods and no chemicals.

I agree that the more mature a system is the easier it will fend off the ugly phase, however i wonder if the amount of time involved/end result are about the same. A few months of no lights and then a short ugly phase vs a long ugly phase with lights on is probably a toss up to most. My advice would be to run a more blue spectrum with less usable light for the algea, and get a small clean up crew when it starts taking over the tank. Definitely agree on the no chemicals part if at all possible. A quick fix is not healthy long term.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

There's obviously 2 minds on this subject, personally I leave lights on during cycles

 

[Lavey29]

I agree that the more mature a system is the easier it will fend off the ugly phase, however i wonder if the amount of time involved/end result are about the same. A few months of no lights and then a short ugly phase vs a long ugly phase with lights on is probably a toss up to most. My advice would be to run a more blue spectrum with less usable light for the algea, and get a small clean up crew when it starts taking over the tank. Definitely agree on the no chemicals part if at all possible. A quick fix is not healthy long term.

Good analysis, I only offer the 4 month plan because it seemed to work very well in my situation but every tank is unique as you know.