Lighting a cycling tank

vitodog · 01/03/2010, 08:21 AM

Good Morning All,

I finally added the live rock and sand to my newly started reef tank (90gal.) and I'm a little confused about lighting the tank while it is cycling. I have read threads on this forum about this issue and just about everyone suggested that lights remain off during the cycling period. However, the book that I have been using to help me get re-acquainted with the reef keeping hobby (The Marine Reef Aquarium) by Philip Hunt, suggests that the lights should be on during the cycling period for about "12 hours a day" Mr. Hunt further suggests that "This will help algae to grow to the benefit of the small creatures living in the live rock and the herbivorous fishes added later" So, should I do as Mr. Hunt suggests or what most everyone in this forum, and other forums I might add, suggests (lights off during cycling) ?

Thanks,
vitodog

SleepyJ · 01/03/2010, 08:45 AM

I kept my lights on for four hours per day during the cycle to encourage coraline. I did get a small algae bloom after a couple of weeks, but that was mowed down when I added my CUC.

sedor · 01/03/2010, 08:47 AM

Your tank will cycle with or without lights really so it doesn't really matter. Algae growth is not really what we are after here, its bacteria. I would say maybe for the last few weeks of the cycle just run the lights for a matter of getting into the habit.

01/03/2010, 08:21 AM	#1
vitodog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 1,226	Lighting a cycling tank Good Morning All, I finally added the live rock and sand to my newly started reef tank (90gal.) and I'm a little confused about lighting the tank while it is cycling. I have read threads on this forum about this issue and just about everyone suggested that lights remain off during the cycling period. However, the book that I have been using to help me get re-acquainted with the reef keeping hobby (The Marine Reef Aquarium) by Philip Hunt, suggests that the lights should be on during the cycling period for about "12 hours a day" Mr. Hunt further suggests that "This will help algae to grow to the benefit of the small creatures living in the live rock and the herbivorous fishes added later" So, should I do as Mr. Hunt suggests or what most everyone in this forum, and other forums I might add, suggests (lights off during cycling) ? Thanks, vitodog

01/03/2010, 08:47 AM	#3
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Your tank will cycle with or without lights really so it doesn't really matter. Algae growth is not really what we are after here, its bacteria. I would say maybe for the last few weeks of the cycle just run the lights for a matter of getting into the habit. __________________ Ryan

01/03/2010, 08:45 AM	#2
SleepyJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Niantic, CT Posts: 425	I kept my lights on for four hours per day during the cycle to encourage coraline. I did get a small algae bloom after a couple of weeks, but that was mowed down when I added my CUC.