Refugium Light

[Vince272992]

Hi i was wondering how many hours i should leave my refugium light on per day, i have a 65 gallon reef with 20 gal sump

 

[Wolverine]

Back when I had one, I did it on the off cycle for the main tank. So when the main light went off, the fuge light turned on. Some people go a bit less, like to 6-8 hours.

 

[darthparj]

Have mine set to turn on at 4pm and off at 10am

 

[JSeymour]

Depends on what I'm trying to grow, the more light you can give them, the more nutrients they can consume. Although I rarely grow any Caulerpa species anymore, most don't need a rest period, so can be grown in 24 hours of light. Most other commonly used macros want a rest period from what I've seen. I'm not sure of any studies, but in my experience, 6-8 hours of darkness is beneficial, i.e. they grow better. Any more than that, and you are limiting photosynthesis. Lucky for us, under high lighting, corals only need 6-8 hours of light, so lighting your refuge opposite the display's main lights works great. Lets not forget the pH balance you will recieve from doing this too.

So the short answer, 18 hours of light ran opposite the display.

 

[Donkeykong]

I go with reverse cycle of the tank, besides the PH stabilzation that it adds, I also look at it this way; No extra heat during the day in summer months and a little extra heat at night during the winter months.

 

[Vince272992]

K sweet thanks

 

[Bigcapct]

I leave mine on 24/7

 

[Deepblu]

I use the reverse light cycle of my main tank as well.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I never turn mine off. I grow chaeto and calupera fine.

 

[Vince272992]

oh and should i put a frag of xenia in the refugium because i heard that help control phosphates.....is that true

 

[aleonn]

I leave my JBJ Nano-Glo LED refugium light on 24/7. The chaeto has been growing well despite also running bio-pellets and GFO.

I wouldn't rely on Xenia for phosphate control. Although xenia look cool, some people consider them to be weeds, and others can't seem to grow them. I'd look into GFO for more effective and efficient phosphate control IMO.

 

[reefjunkie42]

this....

Depends on what I'm trying to grow, the more light you can give them, the more nutrients they can consume. Although I rarely grow any Caulerpa species anymore, most don't need a rest period, so can be grown in 24 hours of light. Most other commonly used macros want a rest period from what I've seen. I'm not sure of any studies, but in my experience, 6-8 hours of darkness is beneficial, i.e. they grow better. Any more than that, and you are limiting photosynthesis. Lucky for us, under high lighting, corals only need 6-8 hours of light, so lighting your refuge opposite the display's main lights works great. Lets not forget the pH balance you will recieve from doing this too.

So the short answer, 18 hours of light ran opposite the display.

 

[Drichards36]

I run my opposite to the main tank light.