No lights, no diatoms, no algae, no problem?

[glb]

I have a new (c. two months) 40g breeder that I cycled with Dr. Tim's and pure ammonia. Once the cycle completed, I added two clownfish that are doing great. For now it's fowlr until I can buy a nice t-5 fixture. In the meantime, I have house track lighting on during the day for aesthetics and so the fish know when it's time to go to bed. I've had zero diatoms or algae, and I assume it's because I don't have lights. Is there any problem leaving it like this until I buy the t-5's? It might be a year or two. I don't have any cuc's yet because there's nothing for them to eat. The nitrates are about 25-30 after a 50% water change after the cycle. Any suggestions are welcome!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Nope, I don't think there's a problem. I think you're good to go.

 

[Swoody]

Yep I would say no problem either....the 135 gallon system that I bought had no lights for three years on it. Of course it had no Coraline , no algae, no corals, anything like that. Sure was clean though!!

 

[mcarroll]

Perfect title.

Just be aware that turning the lights on is going to be a big change when it happens!! Personally, I'd need a light system that's dimmable and I'd ease the whole tank up to the target lighting level as if it was a really sensitive coral.

The first 1-4 weeks, just 2000-3000 lux. Then double it and see how that plays for a month or so.
After that month or so, raise it to about 10,000 lux.

You can start growing corals now, more than likely (I do)....you might even get away with some corals after the first bump.

The main thing is to see how the tank algae reacts before going all the way to your final lighting levels....hate to go from zero to "out of control bloom".

It even gives you a chance – once algae is growing – to start adding CUC a little at a time so you can easily keep their numbers matched to the algae growth.

If all is well once you're up at 10,000 lux for a while, I think you should be safe to go up to where you want the lights from there.

On the other hand, if things are dicey at 10,000 lux, maybe don't go up any more and just try growing corals there. They succeed well under low light as long as nutrient and other conditions are favorable and stable! Once things are less dicey you can start raising the lights little by little again, only you don't have to pretend about the sensitive coral anymore.

 

[glb]

Would it make any sense to get inexpensive lights now to get the diatom/algae parts of the cycle over with. It seems like a waste of money to me but thought I'd ask.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I don't think so. In theory as you let the tank and rock cure the silicates will get pulled out and lessen the diatom phase. You could even run gfo and such to pull out both Po4 and silicates.
I think sand stirring will also help the process along.

 

[mcarroll]

Depends.....what are you really waiting for in the plan for the tank?

If you can afford some lights and want to get started growing some stuff now, then get a basic lower-light setup – even something DIY – and get started. Personally, I'd encourage more folks to start with corals first and add fish later on, so I see no reason to hesitate.

I would not bother lighting the tank just for diatoms, etc, though.

 

[glb]

Depends.....what are you really waiting for in the plan for the tank?

If you can afford some lights and want to get started growing some stuff now, then get a basic lower-light setup – even something DIY – and get started. Personally, I'd encourage more folks to start with corals first and add fish later on, so I see no reason to hesitate.

I would not bother lighting the tank just for diatoms, etc, though.

I'm waiting until I can afford a nice ATI T-5 fixture. And I want to buy an Apex before i get lights. It's a budget thing.

 

[mcarroll]

I'd re-allocate the fish budget to lights, the fish food budget for corals....then save up for fish!

(You sure you want high-power lights down in Miami? You run HVAC 24/7?)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Slow and steady wins the race. The deals will come.

 

[glb]

I'd re-allocate the fish budget to lights, the fish food budget for corals....then save up for fish!

(You sure you want high-power lights down in Miami? You run HVAC 24/7?)

We do run AC 24/7. The reason I want t-5's is I've had no luck growing LPS under LED's and they're my favorite coral. They're that hot?

 

[mcarroll]

With your weather, yep they are. They can make running a chiller a requirement. $️$

Running HVAC isn't a $free solution either – so LED's are a strong choice in most cases.

I'm sure there are some minor adjustments to what you were doing and you'd have no trouble with any kind of light.