Light 24/24 in the sump good or bad?

[MDboyz]

As I have read many of reefers having their light 24/24 in the sump. They said it would stop grape caulerpa from going sexual .. die off. Is it good or bad?

 

[Entacmaea]

I'd stick with reverse daylight, not 24/7. There are biological processes that go on at night for plants, and to overall water chemistry, that you could possibly negatively impact if depriving them of the lack of light. I always try to approximate nature, when possible. Would you want go without darkness for your entire life? :wink: I'd go batty...

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

Check out this thread: http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=105985

While there are valid arguements on both sides, reverse daylight has the advantage, according to the poll. I've ran mine both ways and saw no advantage to 24/7. So I'm sticking with reverse daylight and saving on the power bill.[/url]

 

[Nelliereefster]

BTW, the new FAMA mag has a good article advocating 24/7 on algae refugiums. I go 24/7 and have not noticed any detriments. FWIW, reverse cycle worked for me in the past as well on a previous set-up.

 

[Nelliereefster]

BTW, the new FAMA mag has a good article advocating 24/7 on algae refugiums. I go 24/7 and have not noticed any detriments. FWIW, reverse cycle worked for me in the past as well on a previous set-up.

 

[Desolas]

I've ran both, and have noticed much more growth when running the lights on a on/off cycle. The caulerpa grows faster. But, it also has gone sexual a few times in my refugium while under a day/night cycle. It never did when I ran my lights 24/7.

My max Ph was higher on my tank when I ran my refugium lights 24/7 as well. It stayed around 8.4-8.5 all the time, now it stays at 8.2-8.4 and I dose limewater 24/7.

I have to keep a closer eye on the caulerpa, but I think the increase in growth also means I'm exporting nutrients faster than when I was running the lights all the time.

 

[MDboyz]

Thankz for your feedbacks. I have it set 12/24 now.

 

[danmhippo]

FYI, I ran mine 24/7 for 3 years already, lush growth with no bleachings....

 

[Eddie G]

What is meant when you say caulerpa "goes sexual"?

 

[danmhippo]

They release gamets and turn white, becoming a very pale white/light green color. The gamets will pollute the tank and becomes excess nutrients in the tank. Filter feeders and some corals may pick up some gamets, but the majority decompose and wreck hovac on your tank's chemistry. If you have a skimmer, it will go crazy too.

 

[esmithiii]

'd stick with reverse daylight, not 24/7. There are biological processes that go on at night for plants, and to overall water chemistry, that you could possibly negatively impact if depriving them of the lack of light.

The "dark cycle" of photosythesis does not actually require darkness; what is meant is that the dark cycle does nore require light. Many aquarists use the 24/7 approach. Personally I use a reverse daylight approach.

Ernie

 

[ChrisRD]

I use reverse daylight and don't have any problems as long as I keep the fuge cropped back enough.