The Universe hates me will my corals be okay?

cab395 · 01/03/2014, 11:19 AM

Hi all. I had my light fixture blow up on me on Wednesday night, so I ordered a new one with 1 day shipping, but in the northeast we got this huge snowstorm. I won't be able to get lights on my tank until Monday. That would be four days with no lights on the tank. Will my corals be okay? I have 3 SPS, two birds nest and a purple digi, LPS (hammers, FS, torch, acans, blast), and softies (zoos, rics, leathers).

Will feeding my corals once in the mean time save them if they won't be okay otherwise?

That would be four days with absolutely no light over the tank. Am I doomed? All this money down the drain.

MondoBongo · 01/03/2014, 11:28 AM

plenty of people have done 3 - 4 days of lights out to kill off cyano or other pest algae.

i would wager your corals will be just fine as long as everything else is still working.

besides, what other options do you have?

disc1 · 01/03/2014, 11:34 AM

Out in nature on the reef sometimes storms blow in and the sky gets really dark sometimes for days on end. If you're really worried about the corals, just tell them that's what's going on. Coral aren't very smart animals. They're generally pretty easy to fool like that.

bob1968 · 01/03/2014, 11:47 AM

You could get a couple cfl bulbs and clip on work light.
You should be fine thou

KJAhp098 · 01/03/2014, 12:00 PM

They'll be fine. Just make sure that when your new lights come that you acclimate it slowly.

jdaniels175 · 01/03/2014, 12:03 PM

i turn the lights out on my tank for 3 days at a time every month or so. Also my corals survived 3 days with no power twice. That means no heat, pumps, lights, etc. You will be fine. Corals, in general, aren't as fragile as we make them out to be.

aandfsoccr04 · 01/03/2014, 01:37 PM

I've had my lights off for 3 days and only an all blue led actinic strip on the 4th day before and everything, including anemone, was fine.

Palting · 01/03/2014, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disc1

Out in nature on the reef sometimes storms blow in and the sky gets really dark sometimes for days on end. If you're really worried about the corals, just tell them that's what's going on. Coral aren't very smart animals. They're generally pretty easy to fool like that.

LOL!!! I thought I was reading a post from PaulB for a second. But yeah, they'll be fine with no lights/ambient light only for several days.

BrianB421 · 01/03/2014, 02:31 PM

They will be fine. Just be sure to go low and slow on the new lights so your don't shock your corals.

cab395 · 01/03/2014, 11:33 PM

Thank you all. The light is back in motion so hopefully it arrives tomorrow. You have all taken a lot of pressure off my mind. And disc1, no matter what I say, they won't believe me. I guess these corals are extra smart.

ca1ore · 01/04/2014, 12:12 AM

Let me add to the chorus of folks saying your corals will be fine ..... Your corals will be fine

Good news is that after enough years in the hobby you end up with closet full of old equipment, so something is always available to be pressed into emergency service.

Voxboy · 01/04/2014, 11:05 AM

You need to stand over your tank with a flashlight and flick it off and on every 10 minutes or so. This will trick the corals into thinking it's a storm. They will not be as stressed....

cab395 · 01/05/2014, 06:58 PM

Thanks again everyone! The corals all seem fine after getting the new light on the tank. Voxboy, thanks for the advice, I tried that and I'm pretty sure I convinced them it was a thunder storm. I only did it for four hours, since my arms started to get tired.

01/03/2014, 11:19 AM	#1
cab395 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Northeast Posts: 324	The Universe hates me will my corals be okay? Hi all. I had my light fixture blow up on me on Wednesday night, so I ordered a new one with 1 day shipping, but in the northeast we got this huge snowstorm. I won't be able to get lights on my tank until Monday. That would be four days with no lights on the tank. Will my corals be okay? I have 3 SPS, two birds nest and a purple digi, LPS (hammers, FS, torch, acans, blast), and softies (zoos, rics, leathers). Will feeding my corals once in the mean time save them if they won't be okay otherwise? That would be four days with absolutely no light over the tank. Am I doomed? All this money down the drain. __________________ 38 Gallon Reef Tank with softies, LPS, and SPS. Current Tank Info: 38 gallon reef tank

01/03/2014, 11:28 AM	#2
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	plenty of people have done 3 - 4 days of lights out to kill off cyano or other pest algae. i would wager your corals will be just fine as long as everything else is still working. besides, what other options do you have? __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

01/03/2014, 11:34 AM	#3
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	Out in nature on the reef sometimes storms blow in and the sky gets really dark sometimes for days on end. If you're really worried about the corals, just tell them that's what's going on. Coral aren't very smart animals. They're generally pretty easy to fool like that. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

01/03/2014, 12:00 PM	#5
KJAhp098 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,156	They'll be fine. Just make sure that when your new lights come that you acclimate it slowly. __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: Marineland 150DD

01/03/2014, 12:03 PM	#6
jdaniels175 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 146	i turn the lights out on my tank for 3 days at a time every month or so. Also my corals survived 3 days with no power twice. That means no heat, pumps, lights, etc. You will be fine. Corals, in general, aren't as fragile as we make them out to be. __________________ my advice to you is to start drinking heavily. Current Tank Info: 50 gal sumpless, backpak skimmer, Nova extreme 4 bulb SLR t-5, ATS

01/03/2014, 11:47 AM	#4
bob1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: bristol,pa. Posts: 303	You could get a couple cfl bulbs and clip on work light. You should be fine thou

01/03/2014, 01:37 PM	#7
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 3,561	I've had my lights off for 3 days and only an all blue led actinic strip on the 4th day before and everything, including anemone, was fine. __________________ 120 gallon mixed reef

01/03/2014, 02:31 PM	#9
BrianB421 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 189	They will be fine. Just be sure to go low and slow on the new lights so your don't shock your corals. __________________ Who knew small animals, salt water, and electricity could be so much fun? Current Tank Info: Tank Info:140gal glass bull nose peninsula/180lbs+ LR/Tao Tronics LEDs/Hydor wave maker/Reef Octopus PS and MR

01/03/2014, 11:33 PM	#10
cab395 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Northeast Posts: 324	Thank you all. The light is back in motion so hopefully it arrives tomorrow. You have all taken a lot of pressure off my mind. And disc1, no matter what I say, they won't believe me. I guess these corals are extra smart. __________________ 38 Gallon Reef Tank with softies, LPS, and SPS. Current Tank Info: 38 gallon reef tank

01/04/2014, 12:12 AM	#11
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Let me add to the chorus of folks saying your corals will be fine ..... Your corals will be fine Good news is that after enough years in the hobby you end up with closet full of old equipment, so something is always available to be pressed into emergency service. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

01/04/2014, 11:05 AM	#12
Voxboy Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sault Ste Marie Posts: 410	You need to stand over your tank with a flashlight and flick it off and on every 10 minutes or so. This will trick the corals into thinking it's a storm. They will not be as stressed.... __________________ Like my Grandfather...I wish to die peacefully in my sleep....unlike the screaming passengers in his car Current Tank Info: 130g mixed reef.

01/05/2014, 06:58 PM	#13
cab395 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Northeast Posts: 324	Thanks again everyone! The corals all seem fine after getting the new light on the tank. Voxboy, thanks for the advice, I tried that and I'm pretty sure I convinced them it was a thunder storm. I only did it for four hours, since my arms started to get tired. __________________ 38 Gallon Reef Tank with softies, LPS, and SPS. Current Tank Info: 38 gallon reef tank