Do you keep your lighting on when cycling a Tank?

[JoshInSF]

I am Cycling a new tank and will be using the Red Sea reef mature pro kit for the process. I was curious if you are supposed to have your lighting on for off when you cycle a new tank? The manual from Red Sea says I should use eight hours of lighting per day. A buddy has been in the hobby for a long time just told me that my lights should be off when I cycle. Thoughts?


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[Ogi]

+1 with your buddy, no need to give unwanted algae growth a head start, I only turned my lights on when I got my first corals and to tinker initially.

 

[SnoopyDaPimp]

no need for lights

 

[Sonyardo]

I would leave the lights off if it were me.

 

[Bent]

I also say lights out.

 

[reefwiser]

No lights its a biological cycle doesn't require lights. Only need lights for corals.
A fish only tank doesn't need much light either.

 

[gone fishin]

Either on or off the tank will still cycle. I personally leave them off, no need to waste electricity. good luck just my 2 cents.

 

[aznflyfisherman]

I leave them off as well.

 

[Flaring Afro]

I always leave the display off but the sump/refugium on. This gives the algae down there a jump start ahead of the display.

 

[shadowmonster]

I'll run the lights, just to get the kinks out if any. Algae growth is inevitable regardless.

 

[Mad_Reefer]

Put some macro algae in and run lights on that to speed up your cycle.

 

[BvN]

I'll did all my cycle's with the lights on. In my opinion it helps the system run faster through the cycle 'cause less material will die and the growing algae will consume nitrates and phosphates. When the water params are save I added urchins to get rid of the algae and as part of the maintenance crew.

 

[nereefpat]

I would turn on the lights. Something about a big, blue, box of water turns my crank.

 

[Thatguy89]

+1 no lights unless you want to deal with hair algae!

 

[Bent]

I always leave the display off but the sump/refugium on. This gives the algae down there a jump start ahead of the display.

This is a great idea.

 

[madweazl]

From day one I set my lights (and everything else for that matter) to how I intend to run my tank. This talk of more algae is nonsense, your tank is going to do what it is going to do during the cycle.