lights on during cycle?

[jubjubrsx]

just as the title says, is it a good thing to run your lights during the cycle or will it make a difference...

[Avi]

The general theory for not keepin them on is that while you cycle, there's an excessive amount of nitrates, ammonia, etc. that will tend to support if not foster an aggressive growth of unwanted and ugly micro-algaes. Keeping the lights on during this will only exacerbate the situation. This seems to make sense.

On the other hand, I left the lights on when I cycled my reef on the notion that there may be some hitchhikers on the live rock that needed light for sustenance....when, it turned out there weren't. In any event, despite having had the lights on...I had no micro-algae problems...go figure.

[jubjubrsx]

im definately not worried about hitchhikers i actually picked up some live rock thats been in a vat for a month or so......other then some sponges it looks like so.....sounds like i shouldn't waste the energy...