Observation: Turned off all lights for two days and zoos look AMAZING!

[hot4teacher]

I turned my lights off this weekend (tank is at school) thinking I would be back everyday to turn them on and off. Came back Monday morning, turned on the lights, and even zoos that hadn't opened in weeks are wide open and BEAUTIFUL!

Nothing else changed in the tank, just lighting schedule for 2 days to no light (just residual light from the windows).

I am currently running 4 each 54W T5's from 8am to 4pm, and another 2 11000K T5's from 11am-1pm.

Thoughts? Comments?

Dana

 

[jasert39]

intresting, i remember reading one of the tank of the month threads where the tank owner turns off their lights for a day every other week. Afterwards saying the same things your are.

 

[jmcmahon66]

I do the same thing on my tanks, with great results. I leave the lights off my SPS tank every Monday. I am usually too busy to look at the tank closely anyway. On Tuesday, the polyps are huge and colors seem better. On my zoo tank, I do the same with the same results. I have always thought I overdid the lighting on my tanks, and the corals needed a day of shade. It certainly does mimic natural conditions.

 

[berns]

just a thought

could it be that your corals having been starved of light for a day then stretch themselves at the first sign of new light to help nourish themselves as quicjk as possible, i guess if the polyps are back to their normal looking selves a few days later would also back up that theory (as now nourished so not not needing to over do the stretching)

 

[cowcio]

The idea of turning off lights is used to mimic sea storms, or dark days. Is it possible for you to keep moonlights on over the weekends? This would help make it even more natural.

 

[cwegescheide]

Interesting.... I might try it too.. Seems logical to me. I wouldn't mind saving a little electricity here and there as well

 

[cowcio]

I don't know if it is the best thing to do every week, but occasionally it doesn't hurt. I go to my parents house on Sundays, I generally set my lights to be off on Sundays when I am gone. However, I don't do it every week... more like every other week.

I'm in an experimental stage in my zoanthid tank, I am running it "dirty", skimmerless, and dosing it like crazy. They're happy for now...

 

[hot4teacher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8226311#post8226311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by berns
just a thought

could it be that your corals having been starved of light for a day then stretch themselves at the first sign of new light to help nourish themselves as quicjk as possible, i guess if the polyps are back to their normal looking selves a few days later would also back up that theory (as now nourished so not not needing to over do the stretching)

Very good point. I was thinking the same thing. Some have gone back to the dull state of partially opening or not opening at all.

I wonder if I have too much light 6x54W T5's or if the ones not opening up too well have too much light (up too high).

Dana

 

[anjhof]

Don't corals reach out for light when they need nutrients? Basically you are making them hungry by depriving them of their food source for a day. If this is true, it would make sense that they would reach out for the light once it is restored. Just a thought, and it makes sense in my head.... : )

 

[lalc]

I kill my lights one day a week
Think about how much cash you save annually 6 weeks with no lights bill!!

 

[titan04]

I so it once every week or 2 and it does seem to help...

But I think it may but just us addicts looking at our tanks and one day we can't so the next day everything looks incredible to us

 

[cwegescheide]

I've never tried this before but I turned out my lights today!! Going to see if I notice a diff tomorrow!