Do you keep your lighting on when cycling a Tank?

JoshInSF · 10/12/2016, 05:05 PM

I am Cycling a new tank and will be using the Red Sea reef mature pro kit for the process. I was curious if you are supposed to have your lighting on for off when you cycle a new tank? The manual from Red Sea says I should use eight hours of lighting per day. A buddy has been in the hobby for a long time just told me that my lights should be off when I cycle. Thoughts?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ogi · 10/12/2016, 05:15 PM

+1 with your buddy, no need to give unwanted algae growth a head start, I only turned my lights on when I got my first corals and to tinker initially.

SnoopyDaPimp · 10/12/2016, 06:20 PM

no need for lights

Sonyardo · 10/12/2016, 06:52 PM

I would leave the lights off if it were me.

Bent · 10/12/2016, 07:06 PM

I also say lights out.

reefwiser · 10/13/2016, 05:31 AM

No lights its a biological cycle doesn't require lights. Only need lights for corals.
A fish only tank doesn't need much light either.

gone fishin · 10/13/2016, 07:09 AM

Either on or off the tank will still cycle. I personally leave them off, no need to waste electricity. good luck just my 2 cents.

aznflyfisherman · 10/13/2016, 07:31 AM

I leave them off as well.

Flaring Afro · 10/13/2016, 07:36 AM

I always leave the display off but the sump/refugium on. This gives the algae down there a jump start ahead of the display.

shadowmonster · 10/13/2016, 10:51 AM

I'll run the lights, just to get the kinks out if any. Algae growth is inevitable regardless.

Mad_Reefer · 10/13/2016, 01:15 PM

Put some macro algae in and run lights on that to speed up your cycle.

BvN · 10/13/2016, 01:22 PM

I'll did all my cycle's with the lights on. In my opinion it helps the system run faster through the cycle 'cause less material will die and the growing algae will consume nitrates and phosphates. When the water params are save I added urchins to get rid of the algae and as part of the maintenance crew.

nereefpat · 10/13/2016, 02:11 PM

I would turn on the lights. Something about a big, blue, box of water turns my crank.

Thatguy89 · 10/13/2016, 07:13 PM

+1 no lights unless you want to deal with hair algae!

Bent · 10/13/2016, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaring Afro

I always leave the display off but the sump/refugium on. This gives the algae down there a jump start ahead of the display.

This is a great idea.

madweazl · 10/13/2016, 08:03 PM

From day one I set my lights (and everything else for that matter) to how I intend to run my tank. This talk of more algae is nonsense, your tank is going to do what it is going to do during the cycle.

10/12/2016, 05:05 PM	#1
JoshInSF Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 57	Do you keep your lighting on when cycling a Tank? I am Cycling a new tank and will be using the Red Sea reef mature pro kit for the process. I was curious if you are supposed to have your lighting on for off when you cycle a new tank? The manual from Red Sea says I should use eight hours of lighting per day. A buddy has been in the hobby for a long time just told me that my lights should be off when I cycle. Thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Current tanks: Red Sea Reefer 250, Ecotech Radion XR15 G4, Vectra M1, MP40, Nyos Quantum 120 LED Biocube 32, Maxspect Gyre 130, AquaEuro USA 1/10 Chiller Current Tank Info: Current tanks: Red Sea Reefer XL 525, Ecotech Radion XR30G4 (X3), Vectra M1, MP40 (X2), Nyos Quantum 160, JBJ 1/4 Chiller - Office Tank currently cycling Red Sea Reefer 250, Ecotech Radion XR15 G4, Vectra M1, MP10 (X2), Nyos Quantum 120 - Home tank -

10/12/2016, 06:20 PM	#3
SnoopyDaPimp Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 492	no need for lights __________________ ( 0 \ l / 0 ) & no tanks for now

10/12/2016, 07:06 PM	#5
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	I also say lights out. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

10/13/2016, 05:31 AM	#6
reefwiser Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Louisville,Kentucky Posts: 1,208	No lights its a biological cycle doesn't require lights. Only need lights for corals. A fish only tank doesn't need much light either. __________________ President Louisville Marine Aquarium Society. http://www.lmas.org/ The 3rd Annual Frag swap will be held September 23rd,2017 11 am till 3pm Saint Thomas Fellowship hall,9616 Westport Road,Louisvi

10/13/2016, 07:09 AM	#7
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Either on or off the tank will still cycle. I personally leave them off, no need to waste electricity. good luck just my 2 cents. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

10/12/2016, 05:15 PM	#2
Ogi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 197	+1 with your buddy, no need to give unwanted algae growth a head start, I only turned my lights on when I got my first corals and to tinker initially.

10/12/2016, 06:52 PM	#4
Sonyardo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: OC California Posts: 522	I would leave the lights off if it were me.

10/13/2016, 07:31 AM	#8
aznflyfisherman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 957	I leave them off as well.

10/13/2016, 07:36 AM	#9
Flaring Afro Puffer Geek Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 325	I always leave the display off but the sump/refugium on. This gives the algae down there a jump start ahead of the display.

10/13/2016, 10:51 AM	#10
shadowmonster Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Haddonfield, IL Posts: 197	I'll run the lights, just to get the kinks out if any. Algae growth is inevitable regardless.

10/13/2016, 01:15 PM	#11
Mad_Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 249	Put some macro algae in and run lights on that to speed up your cycle.

10/13/2016, 01:22 PM	#12
BvN Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 91	I'll did all my cycle's with the lights on. In my opinion it helps the system run faster through the cycle 'cause less material will die and the growing algae will consume nitrates and phosphates. When the water params are save I added urchins to get rid of the algae and as part of the maintenance crew. __________________ Cheers, Bert 350galon system - Return: RD12000 - Skimmer: BBK SM 250 - Flow: 2x MP40W - 2x Giesemann Aurora - Ca reactor: Dastaco XtremA + Ultegra - Neptune Apex full (AFS, 2nd EB6, WXM, BoB)

10/13/2016, 02:11 PM	#13
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	I would turn on the lights. Something about a big, blue, box of water turns my crank. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

10/13/2016, 07:13 PM	#14
Thatguy89 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Lake St. Louis, mo Posts: 49	+1 no lights unless you want to deal with hair algae!

10/13/2016, 08:03 PM	#16
madweazl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NOVA Posts: 774	From day one I set my lights (and everything else for that matter) to how I intend to run my tank. This talk of more algae is nonsense, your tank is going to do what it is going to do during the cycle.