Refugium lighting

gradth · 11/09/2008, 11:10 AM

Do you keep your light on the refugium on at all times? Schedule?

mg426 · 11/09/2008, 11:40 AM

I run a coralife 65 watt 10k PC light over my refugium. I run reverse lighting schedule.

james3370 · 11/09/2008, 12:58 PM

yes reverse lighting is what i have heard is the best....helps keep your ph consistant as well.

ser_renely · 11/09/2008, 02:28 PM

I do reverse lighting at the moment.... might do more to increase oxygen/PH....still learning so not sure if I should.

gradth · 11/09/2008, 02:33 PM

by reverse cycle do you mean leaving it off during the day and having it come on at night?

ser_renely · 11/09/2008, 02:36 PM

yeah

EvMiBo · 11/09/2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gradth
by reverse cycle do you mean leaving it off during the day and having it come on at night?

yup, reverse of your display tank's lighting.

crvz · 11/09/2008, 03:37 PM

I do reverse over my frag grow out for similar reasons, to bolster tank pH in the middle of the night. My tank is always borderline low pH, though.

Aquarist007 · 11/09/2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ser_renely
I do reverse lighting at the moment.... might do more to increase oxygen/PH....still learning so not sure if I should.

what you are describing is called the nocturnal shift in pH--very normal
During light plants(algae and corals with algae) perform photosynthesis. This process uses carbon dioxide from the water and produces oxygen as a waste product.

It is the presence of carbon dioxide that controls the level of the pH in the tank. The more carbon dioxide there is the the lower the pH becomes(an inverse relationship)

At night photosynthesis stops and the level of carbon dioxide that was normally used up in the process rises in the tank and as a result the pH falls.

Respiration continues at night and in the day and in this process oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide given off as a waste product.

Botttom line photosynthes consumes the carbon dioxide up with raises the pH and produces oxygen for the inhabitants in the tank

This is why reefers reverse the lighting on the chaeto algae--to ensure a constant pH and provide oxgen on a 24 hour basis.

As far as photoperiod---most reefers seem to acknowlege that 16-18 hours is sufficent.

gradth · 11/10/2008, 07:00 AM

Thanks guys. I now have it set up in reverse to come on with my moonlights.

11/09/2008, 11:10 AM	#1
gradth Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver WA Posts: 517	Refugium lighting Do you keep your light on the refugium on at all times? Schedule?

11/09/2008, 11:40 AM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I run a coralife 65 watt 10k PC light over my refugium. I run reverse lighting schedule. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

11/09/2008, 12:58 PM	#3
james3370 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: US ARMY - El Paso TX Posts: 3,678	yes reverse lighting is what i have heard is the best....helps keep your ph consistant as well. __________________ Yes I hear voices in my head, but they speak spanish so I can't understand anything they say. there's no place like 127.0.0.1 It's a shame that stupidity isn't painful.... Current Tank Info: currently tankless....but planning an AIO

11/09/2008, 02:28 PM	#4
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	I do reverse lighting at the moment.... might do more to increase oxygen/PH....still learning so not sure if I should. __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

11/09/2008, 02:33 PM	#5
gradth Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver WA Posts: 517	by reverse cycle do you mean leaving it off during the day and having it come on at night? __________________ Josh Click on the redhouse for my 180 build. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon pennisula reef

11/09/2008, 02:36 PM	#6
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	yeah __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

11/09/2008, 03:37 PM	#8
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	I do reverse over my frag grow out for similar reasons, to bolster tank pH in the middle of the night. My tank is always borderline low pH, though. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

11/10/2008, 07:00 AM	#10
gradth Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver WA Posts: 517	Thanks guys. I now have it set up in reverse to come on with my moonlights. __________________ Josh Click on the redhouse for my 180 build. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon pennisula reef