Cycling with Lights On Vs. Off???

smalls383 · 02/06/2008, 06:14 PM

I have heard different resons to cycle a tank with the lights on and off. I have a 55 gallon tank with 90 pounds of uncured LR...has been going for the past 8 days with the lights off.

So....should I keep them off or turn them on? What do you all think?

Thanks

Mel-E-Mel · 02/06/2008, 06:17 PM

I asked the same question a few weeks back and most said you can cycle with the lights off.

smalls383 · 02/06/2008, 06:25 PM

well....I have heard that you want to cycle with the lights off so you dont get any booms in algae booms and there being nothing in the tank to eat it....However, I also said that the live rock needs light to fully cure. Not sure whats better

demonsp · 02/06/2008, 06:34 PM

You want to bring the main light time up slowly.Start with 1 hour and increase to bring time to regular about time cycle over.
To much light at first may cause algea blooms and if you wait untill cycle and use full time you will still get the algea bloom.

If you wait for cycle you will still have to bring time up slowly and this goes with new bulbs and light upgrades.

demonsp · 02/06/2008, 06:34 PM

You want to bring the main light time up slowly.Start with 1 hour and increase to bring time to regular about time cycle over.
To much light at first may cause algea blooms and if you wait untill cycle and use full time you will still get the algea bloom.

If you wait for cycle you will still have to bring time up slowly and this goes with new bulbs and light upgrades.

stingythingy45 · 02/06/2008, 06:37 PM

Why would you have the lights out?
Don't you like looking at your rock for critters and watching the water swirl around?You are going to get a bloom no matter what you do.It's all part of the tank becoming mature.
Lights out during cycle.......that must be a new one.lol

02/06/2008, 06:14 PM	#1
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	Cycling with Lights On Vs. Off??? I have heard different resons to cycle a tank with the lights on and off. I have a 55 gallon tank with 90 pounds of uncured LR...has been going for the past 8 days with the lights off. So....should I keep them off or turn them on? What do you all think? Thanks

02/06/2008, 06:37 PM	#6
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Why would you have the lights out? Don't you like looking at your rock for critters and watching the water swirl around?You are going to get a bloom no matter what you do.It's all part of the tank becoming mature. Lights out during cycle.......that must be a new one.lol __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

02/06/2008, 06:17 PM	#2
Mel-E-Mel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Shark City San Jose, CA Posts: 1,950	I asked the same question a few weeks back and most said you can cycle with the lights off.

02/06/2008, 06:25 PM	#3
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	well....I have heard that you want to cycle with the lights off so you dont get any booms in algae booms and there being nothing in the tank to eat it....However, I also said that the live rock needs light to fully cure. Not sure whats better

02/06/2008, 06:34 PM	#4
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	You want to bring the main light time up slowly.Start with 1 hour and increase to bring time to regular about time cycle over. To much light at first may cause algea blooms and if you wait untill cycle and use full time you will still get the algea bloom. If you wait for cycle you will still have to bring time up slowly and this goes with new bulbs and light upgrades.