Chaeto lighting period

[tbone28]

I've read to light the refugium on a reverse photoperiod. What is the reason for that? And how long do you light your refugium each night?

[lancer99]

During the day, when they are lit, algae (including zooxanthellae in most corals) produce oxygen, which raises the pH in your tank. At night, they produce CO2 (carbon dioxide), which lowers the pH.

By having a reverse photoperiod on your refugium, the pH remains more stable.

-R

[reefD]

lighting the sump 24hrs does the same as reverse cycle but also absorbes more nutrients. plats feed when light is present and stop when it isnt. leaving lights on 24hrs keep them feeding. AND IS NOT DETRAMENTALE TO PLANTS! botony 101...a plant will feed continuosly without requiring a rest for the health of the plant. this is how many of our indoor farmers grow fruit faster and better.

[reefD]

the display being lit 12 hours helps ofset oxygen issues and ph issues. its dark period provides this.

[fishworm]

I run my fuge light for 12 hours, it's on opposite the display tank lights.

[Frick-n-Frags]

i actually wouldn't run a reverse photoperiod in a fuge designed for nutrient removal first and foremost.

i have no major pH issues, so why would I want to let the algae in the display run wild for half of every day. whilst the chaeto sleeps, who gets all the light AND extra co2 from fuge AND the fish wee?

the 24hr fuge is what does it all: 1: competes for nutrients 24/7 and will offset pH drops by big plant mass upstairs at night.

as a second best, running the fuge at the same time as the display, at least competes for nutrients, which, don't forget, was the original purpose for the chaeto in the fuge. this is how I have done it in the past

also, i found the slight pH swing to be a great opportunity for a "dosing buffer". I drip kalk at night when the pH naturally drops, drip baking soda during the day, when pH naturally rises.
which is great, because those 2 shouldn't be dripped together anyway

[Frick-n-Frags]

although, with a display full of coral, and little or no algae problems, I could see the justification for running opposite cycles: IF the display was having no algae issue, why compete with the corals.


heh, why should I even worry now. I took my whole stinkin' fuge offline