No lights on tank, time for some LR?

[jamesbaur13]

Hello, I am still in the process of building my lights. My tank is very near ready to go otherwise. I was wondering if I should populating the tank with all the little critters now.

I realize with no lights the photosynthetic organisms are going to have it rough and few will survive.

I was thinking about starting my cycle in the fuge with a grow lamp, cheato, live sand and LR reef rubble.

Good idea or no?

[thegrun]

You can start your cycle, but do not add fish or corals without lighting.

[scarface70706]

are you suppose to have your lights on when cycling your tank?

[Michael]

Originally Posted by scarface70706

are you suppose to have your lights on when cycling your tank?

A debate could arise from this question, I personally would have the lights on for an hour or 2 a day to check the tank out and make sure everything is working etc, but you don't need them on IMO.

[jamesbaur13]

I wouldn't cycle in the complete dark.

I'm not a marine biologist, nor am I an experienced in reef keeping... so take what I am going to say knowing that.

When you introduce LR to the system you are transplanting a small ecosystem. Bigger sized little stuff feeds off of smaller sized little stuff and so on. Unless you are feeding the small critters a food source they are capable/willing to eat they will die off. Granted, pellet food contains a variety of sources and likely provides enough sustenance for all the little critters, but is that what they are willing to eat? Dunno.

For that it makes the most sense to attempt to maintain their natural food sources and leave the lights on for a few hrs a day.

If not the photosynthetic organisms will die off and you have a break in the food chain.

The rest might be able to go on with the pellets, but it lessened your biodiversity... the reason you got LR in the first place.

Anyways, just my twisted logic on the subject.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by jamesbaur13

I wouldn't cycle in the complete dark.

I'm not a marine biologist, nor am I an experienced in reef keeping... so take what I am going to say knowing that.

When you introduce LR to the system you are transplanting a small ecosystem. Bigger sized little stuff feeds off of smaller sized little stuff and so on. Unless you are feeding the small critters a food source they are capable/willing to eat they will die off. Granted, pellet food contains a variety of sources and likely provides enough sustenance for all the little critters, but is that what they are willing to eat? Dunno.

For that it makes the most sense to attempt to maintain their natural food sources and leave the lights on for a few hrs a day.

If not the photosynthetic organisms will die off and you have a break in the food chain.

The rest might be able to go on with the pellets, but it lessened your biodiversity... the reason you got LR in the first place.

Anyways, just my twisted logic on the subject.

ha ha as I mentioned it is a debateable subject he he, however IMO rock can be mature and work well even in the dark, I wouldn't suggest it long term, but an hour or 2 a day at cycling stage is no problem at all and won't be any trouble or cause any issues.