Lights off During Cycling?

[Anonymous]

When setting up a reef tank, Is it considered necessary practice to leave the lights off in the main tank for X number of weeks?

I understand this being necessary when uncured live rock is used, but my experience when using properly pre cured live rock is that the “cycle” can be very brief, often just a few days.

In my next new tank, I will be using a deep sand bed, an EcoSystem filter, and lots of MH light. (1200W)

All opinions welcome.

Regards,

Scott

 

[Anonymous]

In setting up my reefs, I have left the lights off for 3-4 weeks to prevent a big algae/diatom bloom prior to the introduction of inverts. Once water quality is good and I know these guys will survive, one can start with reduced photoperiod, say 2-4 hours per day and gradually ramp up. This assumes you have enough inverts to do the job. One doesn't want alot of nuisance algae for the coralline to compete with, IMO. Also recommend a good herbivore as first fish, Sohal tang is my choice as best, if you have at least a seven foot tank.

Not easy to resist the temptation when you have the new lights, but you gotta do it. Been there, done that.

good luck,

elvis

[This message has been edited by elvisdoc (edited 15 February 2000).]

 

[Anonymous]

How do you keep the polyp hitchikers alive without light?

To me the hitchikers are what make the LR worth (insert large $ sum here)

.

Do you think that adding a small amount of light per day from the beginning (using twice cured LR in my case) would really hurt if using an overly large skimmer and doing lots of initial water changes?

The store I am going to get my LR from cures 2 weeks and it is "cured" for an unknown amt of time at their wholesaler. The Rock is Figi and looks pretty clean when it comes in. The stores only about an hour away and when I go to get it I plan on bringing it home in coolers with some water in them (to prevent die off).

Any idea (I know, its a shot in the dark) of how long this cure might take? Still no lights?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I wanted to bring this subject back to the top of the list because IMHO I thought it would have general interest.

Regards,

Scott

 

[Anonymous]

Um, why would you want to leave the lights off?

Cheers
James Wiseman

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Reefs.org Channel Operator

 

[Anonymous]

yep,lights on.... works for me as you can see

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see my tank at
members.xoom.com/golfish1/reef.htm

 

[Anonymous]

jamesw

The theory was that hair algae was less likely to become a problem if you gave the tank time to cycle more completely.

In the case of a deep sand bed, the anaerobic bacteria need time to develop. i.e let the nitrates drop to near zero before hitting the live rock with you full lighting system.

Regards,

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scott D Passe (edited 16 February 2000).]

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I've cured Raw uncured rock, both with, and without 400w metal halide lighting.

The rock cured w/o looked like corraline encrusted boulders afterward. The rock cured under halide looked like a reef.

As to the algae comment, yes, you will get algal succession if you cure w/ light, which is exactly what you want. One species of algae explodes, utilizing available nutrients (and thereby binding/removing them) Then another species explodes, and etc. Curing the rock in the dark doesn't facilitate this process, it also kills whatever photosynthetic life you have on the rock.

My opinion only
James Wiseman

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Reefs.org Channel Operator

 

[Anonymous]

I always cure with lights, and I have avoided all of the typical algae problems through copious and frequent water changes and constant skimming. You also should consider a temporary holding container for the couple days for an initial rinse. Then dump the water and add the rock to your tank.

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http://members.xoom.com/FriscoReef/

 

[Anonymous]

You guys basically reiterated what I was thinking (but afraid to say and be flamed for). It seems like the algea needs to grow to create nutrient export and allow it to enter into the biological cycle.

I'll do it with the lights on.

(sounds like a line from a porno

)