Light ON or OFF during cycling

Hi!

Should I leave my light on during the cycling period? if yes for how long per day?

I have a 120gals tank with 40gals sump and 70lbs of LR in it?

Thanks

 

Beautemps

Im an off during cycle with lights - person
my reasons are that because we are trying to establish our bacteria culture at that point
our nutrients are all over the place and this can fuel nuisance algaes - especially if live rock was used in set up

I normally run with lights out until about week 12 and then bring my lighting in gradually
by this time I am already using GFO and will have achieved 0 Phosphates , thus removing one of the nutrient for nuisance algaes.

I bring my lighting in over a 4 week period
using 6 hours 1st week
8 on the second week
10 on third and then up to the full lighting by the 4th week

Thats just the way I have done it in the past, other people will have different methods

Steve

 

I know from first hand experience to only turn your actinics on if need be.

At the time I was so excited with new live rock and a new tank that I wanted my cool PC's on at a normal lighting period. Well.... everyday I came home Id see more and more nasty algae growing. Brown, green, ugly, hairy, not pleasant to the eye would become more and more present.

But in time when your cycle is almost done your gonna want to slowly acclimate your tank to the lighting youll be providing.

 

I can personally attest to this!!! I just HAD to see what was going on in there and ended up with enough hair algae that it looked like a grass tank - I could have used a lawnmower! Then, I ended up having to deal with patience on the "other side" of cycling - getting rid of that hair algae was a real pain!