4-Month Lightless Cycling
- Thread starter ssavader
- Start date
coralcruze2020
Member
I would not trust this info. to be correct. the ONLY time I heard black out is with DYNO. seems wrong info from that source.
I've recently been made aware of a similar strategy, that makes a whole lot of sense. The idea is pretty straightforward. When starting up a new tank, you want to keep nutrients fairly low and leave the lights out until it has cycled, which takes approximately two months.
You are trying to prevent any algae getting established, in this critical time of colonizing desirable nitrifying bacteria. Why? Because algae bring their own beneficial bacteria that help them get established and flourish, both early and later on in a tank's life. By keeping it at bay in the beginning, you encourage the good bacteria to colonize, and keep the algae-associated bacteria from getting a foot hold. If done well, the early algae phase can be eliminated and algae is less of a problem long term as well.
Here is the thread where I first learned of this technique: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2704137
I chimed in with my own conflicting experience and advice, but was gradually convinced that this method has merit. Give it a read.
New ideas have a hard time breaking into this hobby. I'd hate to see this one killed before people give it a chance.
You are trying to prevent any algae getting established, in this critical time of colonizing desirable nitrifying bacteria. Why? Because algae bring their own beneficial bacteria that help them get established and flourish, both early and later on in a tank's life. By keeping it at bay in the beginning, you encourage the good bacteria to colonize, and keep the algae-associated bacteria from getting a foot hold. If done well, the early algae phase can be eliminated and algae is less of a problem long term as well.
Here is the thread where I first learned of this technique: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2704137
I chimed in with my own conflicting experience and advice, but was gradually convinced that this method has merit. Give it a read.
New ideas have a hard time breaking into this hobby. I'd hate to see this one killed before people give it a chance.
Two months sounds like a reasonable time frame. I generally wouldn't light the tank until the phosphate and nitrate levels have dropped if I were worried about encouraging algal growth. Something like 6 weeks is fairly normal, but there's no predicting if the tank has enough live rock.
Similar threads
