No Lights for 3 Days Every Couple of Months Works Wonders! - Page 22

amike5 · #**526** 05/19/2007, 07:30 PM

Has anyone tried not cutting all the lights out, but just the majority? Would there be any beneficial effects if I just cut off my halides and just kept my acinics on? IMO this would be the equivilant of gray sky days in the ocean. Just curious if anyone has tried this instead of complete lights out and if there was any benefits noticed.

AJtheReefer · #**527** 05/19/2007, 08:43 PM

Finished my cycle on Thursday. All light came out today.

I like the results, here is a short summary:
- was able to remove a few left over patches of HA
- for some reason skimmer pulled significantly more yesterday night
- Nitrates were higher, .1 (they are always 0)
- great water clarity and polyp extension
- a bit more of RTNing on a SPS frag (Was already RTNing, not sure if the lights out contributed more)

will do it again next month

Aquabucket · #**528** 05/19/2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amike5
Has anyone tried not cutting all the lights out, but just the majority? Would there be any beneficial effects if I just cut off my halides and just kept my acinics on? IMO this would be the equivilant of gray sky days in the ocean. Just curious if anyone has tried this instead of complete lights out and if there was any benefits noticed.

Some of the people who posted that do longer black-outs also once and awhile just run actinics for a day. I do this as well. You won't see the results you get from doing a complete black-out though. If anything you are just giving your tank a break from the intense light and cutting back on power usage a bit.

Quote:

Originally posted by AJtheReefer
Finished my cycle on Thursday. All light came out today.

I like the results, here is a short summary:
- was able to remove a few left over patches of HA
- for some reason skimmer pulled significantly more yesterday night
- Nitrates were higher, .1 (they are always 0)
- great water clarity and polyp extension
- a bit more of RTNing on a SPS frag (Was already RTNing, not sure if the lights out contributed more)

will do it again next month

Thanks for posting your results AJ! I will add you to the next update on the tally. I am a little confused ~ did you do 2 full days or 3?

chris4869 · #**529** 05/19/2007, 10:42 PM

I've tried this almost a month ago, and I have to say that it does help.

My observation:
* Dino died back by about 5-10%.
* Mushrooms expanded in size during the 3 day light-out. They have a greenish-gold sheen a week afterward. I wish they would died instead. =P
* Maxima clam, Birdnest, Acropora, Montipora, and anemonies were unaffected.
* Water clarity unchanged. It's really cleared to begin with so no help there.
* PH dropped slightly.
* Coraline algae unaffected.

So what's new? Nothing new because others have already stated them before. I left my light off for 3 days with only the blue LED moon light on for the fish. There were some indirect lighting from the window (shade closed). I don't have hair algae, so I can't say if it'll help. Just my observation.

By the way Aquabucket, keep up the good work.

AJtheReefer · #**530** 05/20/2007, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Thanks for posting your results AJ! I will add you to the next update on the tally. I am a little confused ~ did you do 2 full days or 3?

I did the full 3 days.

aeroaustin · #**531** 05/21/2007, 12:53 PM

anyone can explain me about what is "HA" means?

Right now I have cyano in my tank. I will use this method and hopeful cyano will gone by 3 days later.

aeroaustin · #**532** 05/21/2007, 12:53 PM

anyone can explain me about what is "HA" means?

Right now I have cyano in my tank. I will use this method and hopeful cyano will gone by 3 days later.

can use pure actinic for day instead of full specturm? or no light at all for three day?

gman0526 · #**533** 05/21/2007, 03:28 PM

Hair Algae

aeroaustin · #**534** 05/21/2007, 03:49 PM

Now I got it. Thanks..

right now Tank is running two pure actininc for three days..

waveform · #**535** 05/21/2007, 04:52 PM

For some of you who specks italian, this is a link to my site with some news and pictures.
Feel free to ask me questions.

http://web.mac.com/waveform/iWeb/Sit...ggio%2007.html

Regards,
Giuseppe

Caleb Kruse · #**536** 05/22/2007, 02:45 AM

I did this and turned the lights off for 3 days, and then only actinics for the day after and all my cyano died!!! A question I have about this when you say that the corals open larger is this a good thing? I read in C the Journal by Anthony Calfo that LPS corals opening very large isn't always a good thing. Do you think that the coral are opening larger because they are happier, or that they are annoyed?

jwinn · #**537** 05/22/2007, 09:06 AM

rock clears up great doing this

jnb · #**538** 05/22/2007, 09:21 AM

this may be helpful paste the address in a google trys its best to translate

http://www.google.com/translate_t

Quote:

Originally posted by waveform
For some of you who specks italian, this is a link to my site with some news and pictures.
Feel free to ask me questions.

http://web.mac.com/waveform/iWeb/Sit...ggio%2007.html

Regards,
Giuseppe

plyle02 · #**539** 05/22/2007, 09:22 AM

I did the 2 days lights out last week, and I will tell you my observations. I was looking to cut back on light, and introduce a new light cycle. I stumbled on this thread and decided to gain as much knowledge, then give a try. Before the lights out, I had to use the mag float to clean my viewing glass of algae, at least every two days, if not every day. I just could not get rid of the algae build up, plus a cyano issue was taking place. On Thursday, last week, I ended my two day cycle, and everything looked great. I went ahead and used the mag float to clean the glass. I just did the glass again this morning, that is 5 days vs. the daily or every other day cleaning. So, with that said, it worked wonders for me, and will now be employed on a monthly basis. Thanks again Aquabucket for sharing your experiences with us......

John Kelly · #**540** 05/22/2007, 10:10 AM

I have 23 Goniopora, a few other small LPS, a few small softies, and a few sps all in the same tank. I did a full 3-day black-out. The water was already sparkling clear beforehand thanks to the skimmer, carbon, and regular water changes. The sand bed was already white thanks to the skimmer, carbon, regular water changes, and clean up crew. The micro algae only needs to be wiped once a week (if even that) thanks to the controlled nutrients in the tank. The tank does not suffer from dinoflagellates, diatoms, cyanobacteria, yellow water, hair algae, or other nuisances that are usually associated with poor water quality or husbandry methods. The corals already extended fully beforehand thanks to regular feedings and keeping a properly balanced environment for them.

The results of my 3-day black-out are:
- The water didn't look any different.
- The sandbed didn't look any different.
- The micro algae weren't present to start with.
- I saved a few pennies on electricity.
- The sps didn't look any different, but a mesoscope would be needed to actually examine them closely.
- The few small softies that I have appeared unaffected.
- 22 out of the 23 Goniopora did NOT extend fully until 1 to 2 days later.
- 5 of those 22 remained completely retracted.
- 2 of those 5 were recovering from being previously bleached, but are still unextended several days later, which isn't going to help their condition.

Since Goniopora are well known for being very sensitive to their environment, the "generalized" conclusion that could be drawn from this is that corals which are more sensitive to changes in their environment are stressed by a black-out period. If sensitive corals are stressed, then I would also conclude that less sensitive corals are stressed to some extent, but it is not as dramatically visible in their reaction.

Just because there are cloudy days over the ocean doesn't mean that corals have come to like cloudy days, or even need them if their environment remains properly balanced and consistent (pH, temp, light/dark periods, light intensity, water flow, SG, calcium/alkalinity, nutrients.....). Just because some corals may be extended huge after a black-out period doesn't mean they are most happy. More than likely, it means they are most hungry.

Keeping an optimum environment for fish and corals will consistently give optimal results in their health and growth, and I think that any experienced reef keeper would look at this black-out method just the same as they already have for years ........as a quick fix technique to temporarily cover for poor tank conditions.

jnb · #**541** 05/22/2007, 10:32 AM

jnb · #**542** 05/22/2007, 10:32 AM

John Kelly · #**543** 05/22/2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnb
My hammers and mushrooms did expand more - but I swear, how in the hell can one conclude it takes more energy for them to do so or that it is because they are very hungry - personally I think it is because they are happy.

Through experience with feeding them on a regular basis and watching the patterns of their reaction when they are fed and when they are not. Try it for a year or two. Before you do though, you will need a clean and balanced system in order to get the most visible effect.

Aquabucket · #**544** 05/22/2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Kelly
Keeping an optimum environment for fish and corals will consistently give optimal results in their health and growth, and I think that any experienced reef keeper would look at this black-out method just the same as they already have for years ........as a quick fix technique to temporarily cover for poor tank conditions.

I guess you have all the answers and I have just been wasting everyones time here. Maybe next time I'll just keep my methods and ideas to myself and let all the "experienced reefkeepers" with perfect tank conditions share their husbandry practices and methods since my tank was in such poor condition beforehand.

So please anyone out there still considering doing regular black-outs don't waste your time because according to Mr. Kelly its just a quick fix that's been known for years. Your tank won't get any cleaner, your corals won't grow any faster, your cyano, diatoms, dinos, and pest algae will stay the same becuase that's the results he observed in his already perfect tank.

melev · #**545** 05/22/2007, 02:20 PM

Please don't take offense by the differing views in this thread. It is a good topic and I'm very glad it was started. If it is based on an older premise, so be it. The fact is, it is working for some.

The more people that add their own experiences to this thread, the better. You can't make an informed decision without some usable data.

Aquabucket · #**546** 05/22/2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
Please don't take offense by the differing views in this thread. It is a good topic and I'm very glad it was started. If it is based on an older premise, so be it. The fact is, it is working for some.

The more people that add their own experiences to this thread, the better. You can't make an informed decision without some usable data.

The overwhelming majority of those who have a black-out are getting favorable results but I guess that's all anecdotal anyway. I don't mind gaining his observations and appreciate John Kelly for contributing his results. I just felt the need to place his opinion in perspective. I apologize for being sarcastic in the response. I am sure many here are capable of making their own decisions based on the observations and data disclosed in this thread. Good luck with your black-outs everyone!

washingtond · #**547** 05/22/2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquabucket
The overwhelming majority of those who have a black-out are getting favorable results but I guess that's all anecdotal anyway. I don't mind gaining his observations and appreciate John Kelly for contributing his results. I just felt the need to place his opinion in perspective. I apologize for being sarcastic in the response. I am sure many here are capable of making their own decisions based on the observations and data disclosed in this thread. Good luck with your black-outs everyone!

Just like with most good things these days someone is always trying to knock a good idea down but don't let them pull you down. You helped more people than you know and we should all share any good ideas or methods that will advance the hobby. There will always be those out there who are just negative.

On that note I just started my second blackout period today after a very successful first one about three weeks ago. At that time I went only two days. Planning three this time and already know that it will be a great benefit to the overall heath of my tank.

John Kelly · #**548** 05/22/2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquabucket
The overwhelming majority of those who have a black-out are getting favorable results ......

My "results" post may sound a little derogatory, but the point of it is that if a tank doesn't have a problem, then WHAT exactly is the purpose of doing a 3-day black-out every couple of months? What is the purpose of doing any black-out? Does it actually work wonders of some sort, or will it always remain just a quick fix as it always has been?

The overwhelming majority of people who have gotten favorable results have also had some sort of existing problem; mostly cyanobacteria. Maybe this thread needs more results from people who don't have a problem with their tanks. Wouldn't that be the way to find out if there is any kind of real discovery here?

With those questions to ponder on and try to find an answer to, I'll leave you all in peace.

Good luck!

Ritten · #**549** 05/22/2007, 09:59 PM

Aquabucket, I'm not going to attempt to go back and re-read all this but my recollection was that this observation was not to correct any problems, although some have observed it did correct some problems. I had GREAT water conditions. I had no nuisance algea and no dino's or any other problem. In my situation, I covered the tank for three days because I had to due to painting. My observation was that I was scared to take the tarp off, but when I did and turned the lights on, by that evening my corals had never looked happier. Did I miss something?

Aquabucket · #**550** 05/22/2007, 11:05 PM

From page one.

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquabucket
I've been doing this for the last year now on my skimmerless 40 gallon mixed reef and the results have been positive. The tank is home to mostly LPS and soft corals with a few SPS. The first time I let my tank go dark this long was to combat dinos. Long after the dinos have gone I still do it because of the positive results I noticed.

I start the darkness period whenever I notice micro algae and diatoms building up on my glass and sand bed which typically takes 2 months or more to appear after each 3 day period of darkness. During the 2 months or so between each period of darkness I need to spend very little time with the mag cleaner and my sand stays pearly white. The tank does get a fair amount of indirect sun and many LPS corals open up during the day with out the lights. The fish remain active and feed normally.

The visual results are similar to a water change. The tank is as crystal clear as can be and the corals respond with excellent polyp extension.

I don't know if anyone else practices this method of "purification" but it is now part of my husbandry after the results I have had.

And so the thread evolved into what it is today and many members observed similar results. Several members stated it also is part of their regular tank husbandry. Some members decided to try it to address other issues. I think its great that many others observed a positive change in their tanks which in turn may have enabled them enjoy their tanks a bit more.

I know there are those who think methods such as this can be seen as a quick fix. It may also be seen as simply "masking' an underlying problem. Others have stated that doing black-outs to address various issues has been known for years and this is nothing new. If you go by that logic alone you could say the same thing about a water change.

My feeling is this ~ if the results are positive and beneficial to my tank and its inhabitants then I am going to keep doing it. The thing that really strikes me about the black-outs is the extreme clarity of water and overall cleansing my tank appears to have undergone afterward. Keep in mind my tank always looks especially clear compared to any tank I have seen in person but the black-outs push the clarity to a level even beyond that.

We are part of a hobby in which people use vodka, sugar, granulated iron, zeovit, prodibio and other countless additives/chemicals/products to achieve their own perfect reef. It makes me wonder what the big deal is if they want to try a black-out for their own particular reasons.