lighting question....

travis127 · 04-29-2008, 06:10 PM

I been cycling for around 3 weeks now and I was wondering should I be keeping my lights on more often I dont ever even have them on an hour a day ... I havnt put anything in the tank yet livestock wise, just what came as hitch-hikers and there is live rock in there with some good coraline on it ... your thoughts?

JoJo · 04-29-2008, 06:27 PM

i not too sure but i've seen folks set their tanks up & cut the lights on from day 1. but i think you raise your chance of an outbreak by doing this.

lcstorc · 04-29-2008, 06:36 PM

Lights will promote algae growth. I would leave them off until the end of the cycle and then turn them on to go through the algae stage before adding livestock other than CUC.

djbacon · 04-29-2008, 06:45 PM

Lynn is spot on

Dont worry about the lights til your cycle is over - even your Cuc doesn't really need them. start to cycle them in slowly before you add corals to minimize algae blooms.

travis127 · 04-29-2008, 06:46 PM

i just waiting on my nitrates to come down so i can add my cuc... so no one think I should have it on at all even just an hour a day? or not at all?

lcstorc · 04-29-2008, 06:49 PM

You can have them on as much or as little as you like. The more lighting the more algae.

djbacon · 04-29-2008, 06:56 PM

btw travis, to get your nitrates down, you will need to do water changes at the end of your cycle to reduce them. I missed this at first too. The amonia and nitrites come and go but the nitrates need to be reduced by dillution. Eventually anaerobic bacteria will help convert them to nitrogen gas but this takes a good while longer.

If you ammonia and nitrites are reading 0 but your NO3 is up you may be at the end of the first phase of your cycle.

suggest readiing this post by prow - tons of good info on cycling and lighting and algae etc. REALLY helped me understand what the hell is going on in there at a higher level. Enjoy !

Newbies, a little something on cycling/breaking in a new reef tank.

travis127 · 04-29-2008, 07:21 PM

thanks yea I have read that a couple times its pretty confusing but it did help........ Yea the ammonia and TRITES are are 0 but TRATES at 20 so i doing water changes,... A bit off topic but while im asking about lighting, what is the simplest lighting you can have and keep ZOAS alive..????

04-29-2008, 06:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
travis127 Serpent Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 238 View Gallery Karma Komment	lighting question.... I been cycling for around 3 weeks now and I was wondering should I be keeping my lights on more often I dont ever even have them on an hour a day ... I havnt put anything in the tank yet livestock wise, just what came as hitch-hikers and there is live rock in there with some good coraline on it ... your thoughts?

04-29-2008, 06:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,866 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: lighting question.... Lights will promote algae growth. I would leave them off until the end of the cycle and then turn them on to go through the algae stage before adding livestock other than CUC. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

04-29-2008, 06:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
djbacon Torch coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 569 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: lighting question.... Lynn is spot on Dont worry about the lights til your cycle is over - even your Cuc doesn't really need them. start to cycle them in slowly before you add corals to minimize algae blooms. __________________ Check out my awesome 14g nanoreef in progress - http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ater-tank.html The Nano Club - It's not the size of the reef. It's what's in it that counts

04-29-2008, 06:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
travis127 Serpent Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 238 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: lighting question.... i just waiting on my nitrates to come down so i can add my cuc... so no one think I should have it on at all even just an hour a day? or not at all?

04-29-2008, 06:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,866 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: lighting question.... You can have them on as much or as little as you like. The more lighting the more algae. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

04-29-2008, 06:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
djbacon Torch coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 569 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: lighting question.... btw travis, to get your nitrates down, you will need to do water changes at the end of your cycle to reduce them. I missed this at first too. The amonia and nitrites come and go but the nitrates need to be reduced by dillution. Eventually anaerobic bacteria will help convert them to nitrogen gas but this takes a good while longer. If you ammonia and nitrites are reading 0 but your NO3 is up you may be at the end of the first phase of your cycle. suggest readiing this post by prow - tons of good info on cycling and lighting and algae etc. REALLY helped me understand what the hell is going on in there at a higher level. Enjoy ! Newbies, a little something on cycling/breaking in a new reef tank. __________________ Check out my awesome 14g nanoreef in progress - http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ater-tank.html The Nano Club - It's not the size of the reef. It's what's in it that counts

04-29-2008, 07:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
travis127 Serpent Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 238 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: lighting question.... thanks yea I have read that a couple times its pretty confusing but it did help........ Yea the ammonia and TRITES are are 0 but TRATES at 20 so i doing water changes,... A bit off topic but while im asking about lighting, what is the simplest lighting you can have and keep ZOAS alive..????

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