Refugium Question

[FishGuy5]

How long do you leave the light on in your fuge? 24/7?? Like your normal light cycle? 8-10-12 hours? More/Less? I have a 30 gallon refugium w/ 2 9 watt PC lights on it. I've been running it 24/7. Is that overkill or too much? Thanks for the responses.

 

[MrMikeB]

Depends on what you are doing with your refugium. Some folks use it as an extension of their tank with livestock down there, so a 24x7 light is probably not a good thing. If you are using it to grow macro and other oddities (pods, etc.) then leave it on all the time. I run my 24x7 - the light that escapes the stand acts like a nightlight so that I do not break my neck when I on the way to the fridge to pillage it for snacks late night, so that is a bonus for me.

 

[mpoletti]

I run mine on a reverse lighting schedule basically. 8PM to 8AM. I use mine for nitrate reduction (DSB) and to help with PH swings.

 

[Doahh]

In my 20 gallon tank the PH only really changes.05... is that really a big deal?

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10332398#post10332398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Doahh
In my 20 gallon tank the PH only really changes.05... is that really a big deal?

Nope, But what does it drop to at night? When the lights go out, PH drops. This stability is only really needed for the more delicate SPS.

 

[Doahh]

My PH is at 8.15 during the day and goes to 8.06 at night... measured with an American Marine Pinpoint PH Monitor

 

[funman1]

I'd run my fuge lights on my big tank 24/7 if I could.
But because it's a flood light in my living room, it only gets to run from 8:00 to 8:00 durring the day.

However the fuge lights on my nano do run 24/7

 

[robertloop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10331932#post10331932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrMikeB
Depends on what you are doing with your refugium. Some folks use it as an extension of their tank with livestock down there, so a 24x7 light is probably not a good thing. If you are using it to grow macro and other oddities (pods, etc.) then leave it on all the time. I run my 24x7 - the light that escapes the stand acts like a nightlight so that I do not break my neck when I on the way to the fridge to pillage it for snacks late night, so that is a bonus for me.

Awesome. So, you're saying that if it wern't for the reef tank.... You'd be dead?

I like it.

 

[dots]

My Ph is kinda red or purple when I test it........sometimes reddish purple other times purplish red.........in the end I still don't know.....maybe thats why I don't test Ph?