Refugium Lights

[sccrcoach]

I was just looking for an opinion on whether to leave my fuge lights on 24/7 or how should I do it?

[chrismhaase]

If you arent going to leave it on 24/7, make sure to do them on a reverse cycle of your display lights. This will help to limit PH drop at night. I use the reverse cycle, FWIW.

[Diver Dan SD]

If you are keeping any type of calurpa macro algae go 24 hours a day because calurpa goes crazy when it is in the dark like little bunny rabbits multiplying. If not do the reverse cycle.

[west co reefer]

Reverse Cycle is best as your tank benefits from it more. (More stable PH). Once tank lights are off, fuge lights go on, and vice versa.

[lvreefer]

Either way works. It is more of a preference and what you are trying to do or control.

[kevinohio]

So if I want to control nutrients. ie phosphate/nitrate whcih is best? Reverse cycle or 24/7?

[ScarabRa]

Originally posted by kevinohio
So if I want to control nutrients. ie phosphate/nitrate whcih is best? Reverse cycle or 24/7?

The ONLY REASON to go 24/7 is to help prohibit Sporing.

When calurpa Spores, it releases chemicals, and has some die off.
So:
Allot of calurpa, allowed to spore =
Allot of chemicals and Die off which =
=========================
BAD

"Bad calurpa" would consist of known sporers:
Grape calurpa
and the fern type of calurpa

Use Cheto, or Prolifera, and you don't have to worry, as they tend NOT to spore.

I believe Prolifera actually is UN able to spore, as it uses Roots to spread. I had some for over 3 years, and NEVER had it spore.
Inatally I tried alternating, and 24/7 lighting a month at a time.
I found it to grow WAY faster running 7 hours on, after the tank lights went out.


Its the same reason we cycle our lights on the corals, who are also photosynthetic.

In an atempt to dispell this plants grow better with 24/7 lighting myth, more information:

"...It is well known by horticulturalists.....plants with a clock period matched to the environment contain more chlorophyll, fix more carbon, grow faster, and survive better than plants with circadian periods differing from their environment...."

Photosynthesis occurs in two stages. In the first phase light-dependent reactions or photosynthetic reactions (also called the Light reactions) capture the energy of light and use it to make high-energy molecules. During the second phase, the light-independent reactions (also called the Calvin-Benson Cycle, and formerly known as the Dark Reactions) use the high-energy molecules to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and make the precursors of carbohydrates.

[Rouselb]

I use both calurpa & Cheto. I run lights 24*7. I trim usually once a month. Could do it every 2 wks. My PH is 8.1 before lights and 8.3 after lights. I experimented with lights on a reverse cycle for 3 months, and i didnt really see much change, growth did appear to be slightly better when i left lights on 27*7. I would recommend starting with the reverse cycle and if you need more growth leave the lights on longer. Good Luck!