No you don't need lights for a CUC.
thanks eric. i have a dilemma and i do not know if this would change my original plan but....i am leaving on my vacation on the 27 and i will not be home for a week... should i buy my CUC on the 25/26 (im planning on getting and emerald crab, hermit crab and astrea snail) and let them clean the tank for a week(it has a ton of algae)? thank youlsmile: