Refugium lighting at night

AZBigJohn · 05/15/2013, 07:54 AM

I have changed my timer so that the lighting in my refugium is on during the late night, opposite my tank lighting (I'm not sure I understand exactly how that effects pH, but I keep reading it helps)

My question is, I noticed that a small amount of light is showing through the back of the stand, and very dimly lights the bottom middle of my tank.

Is that "bleed-through" light at all bad for the aquarium? I need the space between the wall and stand for hoses and airflow to the sump... Should I figure out some way to shield this area from the night light?

mfinn · 05/15/2013, 08:26 AM

Mine does too. Haven't seen any problem in the 17 years I've been keeping a refugium.

thegrun · 05/15/2013, 10:34 AM

It's not a problem unless you notice the corals in that area are not closing up at night, in which case you should try to block more of the light. The reason that running your refugium light at night helps balance pH is because when algae grows (when the lights are on) it produces oxygen which in turn drives out carbon dioxide from the water thus raising your pH.

disc1 · 05/15/2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

The reason that running your refugium light at night helps balance pH is because when algae grows (when the lights are on) it produces oxygen which in turn drives out carbon dioxide from the water thus raising your pH.

Man you're close. Oxygen doesn't drive out CO2 though. The two are independent. The reason it helps with pH is because the algae uses up the CO2. It is just the CO2 that affects pH. The oxygen has nothing to do with it.

05/15/2013, 07:54 AM	#1
AZBigJohn Usually confused... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,091	Refugium lighting at night I have changed my timer so that the lighting in my refugium is on during the late night, opposite my tank lighting (I'm not sure I understand exactly how that effects pH, but I keep reading it helps) My question is, I noticed that a small amount of light is showing through the back of the stand, and very dimly lights the bottom middle of my tank. Is that "bleed-through" light at all bad for the aquarium? I need the space between the wall and stand for hoses and airflow to the sump... Should I figure out some way to shield this area from the night light? __________________ John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system!

05/15/2013, 08:26 AM	#2
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Mine does too. Haven't seen any problem in the 17 years I've been keeping a refugium. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

05/15/2013, 10:34 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It's not a problem unless you notice the corals in that area are not closing up at night, in which case you should try to block more of the light. The reason that running your refugium light at night helps balance pH is because when algae grows (when the lights are on) it produces oxygen which in turn drives out carbon dioxide from the water thus raising your pH.