Do you cycle the lights on/off while cycling the tank?

[Mythicalelf]

Topic^^

 

[Wazzel]

I cycle with the lights off for the first few week, the slowly add time.

 

[Goldndoodle]

You're going to get as many opinions on this topic, as you would if you asked what color some ugly dress is ...

An LFS owner that I trust and respect told me that the bacteria multiple better with lights off, and no lighting should help to keep the inevitable algae blooms somewhat reduced.

I went with lights off based on his recommendation. Cycle took about 4 weeks (using mostly dry rock, and some cured rock to seed bacteria). Diatoms bloom was negligible. GHA algae was absurd - even with lights off (dry rock probably leached a LOT of phos into the water).

 

[tmz]

Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (nitrosomonas and nitrobacter) are chemoautotrophic. They don't use light. They get energy from oxidizing ammonia and use CO2 for carbon. The nitrosomonas are sensitive to certain uv ranges and noted to be photo phobic.Once they colonize and form mats for shade the light is insconsequential. During the first week or so certain light may slow them down as they will be exposed to it in the water column.

 

[fernalfer]

Ok so i have cycled my tank in 2 weeks. I added bottled bacteria. Now i had an ammonia spike then brought it down to 0, Then had the nitrites explode. Just 3 days ago i got the ammonia and nitrites down to 0. I dosed with pure ammonia to 2.5 ppm and it took only 12 hrs. for both to drop to 0. Now just my Nitrates are high, about 50 ppm. I'm assuming i'm cycled but need to get Nitrates down. Should i now be turning my lights on to get the algae stage going?

 

[ScienceRulez]

I would recommend no. Keep the lights off, you are going to have enough fun later on with algae
With GHA and if you are unlucky cyano, you will want to tear your hear out.
:headwalls:

 

[tmz]

If the nitrification cycle is complete, ie no ammonia or nitrite, adding light is ok ; though it may it may spur on nuisance algae and/or cyano bacteria if NO3 and PO4 are high, though, but may also get some coralline going. I'd probably check PO4 at this point and consider a remover like gfo if it's high.

 

[sirclintler]

You're going to get as many opinions on this topic, as you would if you asked what color some ugly dress is ...

An LFS owner that I trust and respect told me that the bacteria multiple better with lights off, and no lighting should help to keep the inevitable algae blooms somewhat reduced.

I went with lights off based on his recommendation. Cycle took about 4 weeks (using mostly dry rock, and some cured rock to seed bacteria). Diatoms bloom was negligible. GHA algae was absurd - even with lights off (dry rock probably leached a LOT of phos into the water).

+1 I had the same experence