New tank cycling, lights on or off???

baldwin8 · 11/30/2009, 03:53 PM

Now I have just finished reading two books about setting up a new tank and cycling. One states to turn the lights on during the cycling to help things along, while the other states to not turn them on during this process to prevent algae bloom. My setup is a 29g FOWLR. Sand and live rock started last friday.

Any experienced comments would be very appreciated.

leeit2me · 11/30/2009, 03:58 PM

I left my lights off for 8 weeks when I cycle my tank. No need turn on the lights, just let it do it's cycle thing. I do water change also in every week of the cycle.

C3gear · 11/30/2009, 04:01 PM

Lights will only help algae grow during the cycle period.

billdogg · 11/30/2009, 04:06 PM

FWIW - unless you are going to have light demanding organisms - corals, anemones, etc - you could get away without lights at all! (fish really don't care too much) I vote for leave them off during cycle.

arredondojason · 11/30/2009, 04:17 PM

i am deployed in afganistan and come home in a week I went home for 2 weeks back in april and setup my new 240G dream build so it has been cycling for about 9 months now with no lights and all is fine in my tank.

wooden_reefer · 11/30/2009, 04:28 PM

Nitrification bacteria are supposed to shun light.

But I have never cycled with a lot of light and have never experienced any difference after I turn light on.

Reverend Reefer · 11/30/2009, 04:36 PM

i vote off for the first 2 months.

floridazooguy · 11/30/2009, 04:41 PM

I leave lights off for the first two weeks then I turn them on but I do water changes.

chow · 11/30/2009, 05:47 PM

I think you should keep the lights on for at least an hour a day. Since it's "LR," it should have a bunch of live stuff on it such as 'shrooms, possible corals, tubeworm, etc. that require some light. I'm cycling my tank now (going on 3 weeks now) and like to have my lights on for at least an hour a day to keep the zoas, 'shrooms, and ricordia alive since they came with the rock. Since I used RO/DI water with 0 TDS, I haven't had any algae outbreaks at all......even with the partial sun light coming in from the window. Maybe the sand sifting starfish(size of a tennis ball) that came along as a hitchhiker on some used LR I bought is consuming it....but he seems to be always hiding in this one rock I have. I hope he doesn't starve!

bertoni · 11/30/2009, 07:57 PM

I don't think it matters all that much, either way, for the first few weeks. I'd leave the lights on, to help photosynthetic organisms survive, but I'd be careful about removing any pest macroalga that shows up. Longer periods might kill off more photosynthetic organisms and animals that fed on them, but that's not necessarily a disaster, either.

Michael · 12/01/2009, 12:42 AM

personally id say switch on every day for an hour or 2 just to observe all equipment is running and its also pleasing to look at the tank, in the early stages theres nothing more exciting than observing the tank, as for whether the lights need to be on or not, well i dont think it really matters, theres no way i couldnt have my lights on for a while everyday though, sitting in a chair watching the water surface ripple is far better than watching tv

aaronnohren · 12/01/2009, 08:45 AM

Leave them off. Delay that algae bloom as long as possible. Oh yes, its coming

11/30/2009, 03:53 PM	#1
baldwin8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 15	New tank cycling, lights on or off??? Now I have just finished reading two books about setting up a new tank and cycling. One states to turn the lights on during the cycling to help things along, while the other states to not turn them on during this process to prevent algae bloom. My setup is a 29g FOWLR. Sand and live rock started last friday. Any experienced comments would be very appreciated.

11/30/2009, 04:01 PM	#3
C3gear Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlanta,GA Posts: 51	Lights will only help algae grow during the cycle period. __________________ Men Do what they want Boys do what they can..... Current Tank Info: starting a new build soon

11/30/2009, 04:06 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	FWIW - unless you are going to have light demanding organisms - corals, anemones, etc - you could get away without lights at all! (fish really don't care too much) I vote for leave them off during cycle. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

11/30/2009, 07:57 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't think it matters all that much, either way, for the first few weeks. I'd leave the lights on, to help photosynthetic organisms survive, but I'd be careful about removing any pest macroalga that shows up. Longer periods might kill off more photosynthetic organisms and animals that fed on them, but that's not necessarily a disaster, either. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/01/2009, 12:42 AM	#11
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	personally id say switch on every day for an hour or 2 just to observe all equipment is running and its also pleasing to look at the tank, in the early stages theres nothing more exciting than observing the tank, as for whether the lights need to be on or not, well i dont think it really matters, theres no way i couldnt have my lights on for a while everyday though, sitting in a chair watching the water surface ripple is far better than watching tv __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/30/2009, 03:58 PM	#2
leeit2me Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: bklyn,ny Posts: 241	I left my lights off for 8 weeks when I cycle my tank. No need turn on the lights, just let it do it's cycle thing. I do water change also in every week of the cycle.

11/30/2009, 04:17 PM	#5
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	i am deployed in afganistan and come home in a week I went home for 2 weeks back in april and setup my new 240G dream build so it has been cycling for about 9 months now with no lights and all is fine in my tank.

11/30/2009, 04:28 PM	#6
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	Nitrification bacteria are supposed to shun light. But I have never cycled with a lot of light and have never experienced any difference after I turn light on.

11/30/2009, 04:36 PM	#7
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	i vote off for the first 2 months.

11/30/2009, 04:41 PM	#8
floridazooguy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 118	I leave lights off for the first two weeks then I turn them on but I do water changes.

11/30/2009, 05:47 PM	#9
chow Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 61	I think you should keep the lights on for at least an hour a day. Since it's "LR," it should have a bunch of live stuff on it such as 'shrooms, possible corals, tubeworm, etc. that require some light. I'm cycling my tank now (going on 3 weeks now) and like to have my lights on for at least an hour a day to keep the zoas, 'shrooms, and ricordia alive since they came with the rock. Since I used RO/DI water with 0 TDS, I haven't had any algae outbreaks at all......even with the partial sun light coming in from the window. Maybe the sand sifting starfish(size of a tennis ball) that came along as a hitchhiker on some used LR I bought is consuming it....but he seems to be always hiding in this one rock I have. I hope he doesn't starve!

12/01/2009, 08:45 AM	#12
aaronnohren Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 89	Leave them off. Delay that algae bloom as long as possible. Oh yes, its coming