Lights during cycling ?

[shivram]

Hello everyone,
My tank size
6x2x3 feet
I have started my cycle from past 15 days , with live rocks , currently having sump,protine skimmer,active caron, diy uv sterilizer in sump (from 1day)
My test report ( on 25.8.18 )
Ph 7.5
Ammonia 1.5
Nitrite 10
Nitrate 50
Phosphate 0.5
Salinity 1.021

I have bought 4x30w T8 actinic blue and
3x30w white T8 light, and planning to install it soon, please guid me if i can switch on my lights while cycling ? And i also had a bateria bloom in my reef tank and its now 80% clear ?
Have attached my tank pic
Please help me with this

 

[IslandLifeReef]

I would wait until the bloom is gone before switching the lights on. Otherwise, I don't see a problem with having them on though I know there are people who think they should stay off to avoid algae.

On another note, I would bring up your salinity to around 1.025.

 

[shivram]

I would wait until the bloom is gone before switching the lights on. Otherwise, I don't see a problem with having them on though I know there are people who think they should stay off to avoid algae.

On another note, I would bring up your salinity to around 1.025.

Should i bring up the sanity 1.025 immidiatly or can i do that after the cycle is finished ?

 

[NY_Caveman]

I do not like to run lights during a cycle. Even with live rock (unless the rock came with lots of corals on it). Just my opinion. Unless there is a lot of life that requires nutrients and light, the only thing benefiting from it would be algae. Ambient light is enough for coralline algae. I have had live rock in a partially covered bucket for four months and the coraline has barely receded at all. However, it has not spread to the dry rock in the bucket (that I have noticed).

 

[Idoc]

I left my lights off during the cycle... and glad i did. I turned them on timed to when i would have the cuc ready to go in. After only a coupe days of lights, the sand and rocjs were green!

Also, maybe turn off your uv sterilizer during the cycle as well. Some of the bacteria you are building up will be in the water column which your sterilizer may be killing... really no reason for it to be in yet.

 

[shivram]

I left my lights off during the cycle... and glad i did. I turned them on timed to when i would have the cuc ready to go in. After only a coupe days of lights, the sand and rocjs were green!

Also, maybe turn off your uv sterilizer during the cycle as well. Some of the bacteria you are building up will be in the water column which your sterilizer may be killing... really no reason for it to be in yet.

Ok sure... thanks... when can i turn on my lights ?

 

[408Dartfish]

I leave my lights off during cycle for the fact I don’t want algae to get the upper hand. With having ammonia and nitrites no snails or hermits can live while the cycle is ongoing, to eat the algae from the lights being on. When your nitrites and ammonia are at zero, I would then start my 8 hour light cycle. Dustin

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Should i bring up the sanity 1.025 immidiatly or can i do that after the cycle is finished ?

I would just top off with salt water instead of RO water until the salinity got to 1.025.

 

[User1]

Lights out during cycle. There really isn't a reason to do so and it will only introduce algae believe it or not. I believe that the bacteria grows better or faster or however it works better in the dark or with no light. You can of course search on that for a more accurate answer But you get the idea. Lights out until your cycle is complete. Same with skimmer - it should be off. Once cycle is complete then you can fire up the lights with an acclimation cycle if you will and once a fish is introduced then turn on the skimmer...

 

[NY_Caveman]

Lights out during cycle. There really isn't a reason to do so and it will only introduce algae believe it or not. I believe that the bacteria grows better or faster or however it works better in the dark or with no light. You can of course search on that for a more accurate answer But you get the idea. Lights out until your cycle is complete. Same with skimmer - it should be off. Once cycle is complete then you can fire up the lights with an acclimation cycle if you will and once a fish is introduced then turn on the skimmer...

Would you use the skimmer if starting with live rock? (die off, etc.) Or would you still leave it off?

EDIT: sorry, for the hijack

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Would you use the skimmer if starting with live rock? (die off, etc.) Or would you still leave it off?

EDIT: sorry, for the hijack

I'm a fan of running the skimmer during the cycle to break the skimmer in. It won't hurt the cycle and will reduce the extra foaming of the break-in period once you add the inhabitants.

 

[User1]

@NY_Caveman if starting with live rock then yes, I probably would run the skimmer.

With my post I was assuming dead/dry rock to start the cycle so there is really no point. @IslandLifeReef life reef makes a valid point about breaking in the skimmer. Since I was dry Pukani and cycling I left everything off and let it ride. Once the cycle was completed I was still on the road traveling so didn't get back to it for about another month. I started lights, then moved the tank, then fired up the skimmer. But in my case it was a 210 gallon tank with me only moving over a 40 breeder. So not a huge bioload and had time for the skimmer to come back online.