Lights off for growth spurts?

[no_Wedge]

It would seem to me that sometimes it would be beneficial to turn the lights off for a while or a day to promote growth and hunger in the coral and the Zooxanthellae. Would this be a correct assumption or has there been studies on this?

 

[mike_cmu04]

I dont know if it is proven but i do notice that my corals look better after leaving the lights off a day every now and then.

 

[aleonn]

I'd turn off the lights here and there to minimize algae growth. Never considered the growth spurt idea though.

 

[Reefsnob]

I dont know if it is proven but i do notice that my corals look better after leaving the lights off a day every now and then.

Now that you say it, I think your right. My corals seem brighter in the morning and after the lights have been off for awhile. How would you test this theory?

 

[Rumplestilsken]

Now that you say it, I think your right. My corals seem brighter in the morning and after the lights have been off for awhile. How would you test this theory?

Have you noticed this more so in SPS, LPS or softies? I think my LPS always look more colorful in the morning but that is long before they puff up to double the size.

 

[awestruck]

This is a great topic for many reasons. I've heard of quite a few eople who turn them off, as aleonn stated, to minimize algae growth. And, lots of people actually turn them off for 3 days every several months.

Furthermore, I was in the Scuba Diving/Snorkling forum and we were discussing this. The person who started the thread talked about how cloudy the days are where he dives, and that the reefs are not constantly inundated with hot, blazing light like we give our tanks. I believe that not only will it help growth, but I am firmly convinced that like us, nature needs to rest, and not just at night. Maybe the corals get exhausted and would be healthier if they rested more...

 

[Praben]

The night time is the right time... The night time is the right time....

 

[no_Wedge]

i also am thinking that from what i have read about the Zooxanthellae and coral relationship is that Zooxanthellae can be released when there is too much heat or light and the coral feels it does not need as much (hence better color after lights out) and that they both want to stick together better when they are both needed. I am going to give it a shot over the next month since i have several new frags and see what happens.

 

[awestruck]

Let us know what you find.