Lights off?

Was reading on another forum (can't remember now where ) - about a fellow that advocated keeping lights totally off for 3 days every month or so.

He claimed a much reduced nuisance algae problem and much better response by corals, once lights came back on. -- seemed to me he turned all lights off for 3 days, then one day with just actinics then back to regular schedule.

Anyone here do this or have read same?

Reefs must have extended low light periods due to bad weather, so it might be just worth a try.

During day there will be enough ambient light for fish to get about and feed, so they will not be in total dark for the 3 day period.

 

IMO, this isn't a good idea, as zooxanthellae need irradiance to carryout photosynthesis. No light and photosynthesis shuts down, which is why carbon dioxide levels tend to increase at night unless you are running a reverse daylight lighting scheme on a refugium.
If you are going to try to replicate the suns lux/intensity and vary it from time to time as is associated with cloud cover and the movement of the suns from sunrise to sunset, it would be better to set up your lights to move across the top of your tank, if you know what I am trying to explain. Also, it may be beneficial to create a contraption that will block the available light to your tank periodically to change the PUR available to your corals, this way the lux will be altered at different times as is evident over our reefs during cloud cover and the position of the sun during the day light hours especially.

 

Even during bad weather, the spectrum of the suns light beneficial to photosynthesis does make it through the clouds, just not at the same intensity. Sadly, even if you have your tank near the window, glass absorbs and reflects this spectrum of light. You can vary your lighting intensity by moving your lights like CR explained or lay a sheet of fiberglass screen under your light (basic screen door screen from home depot will do). If your LFS uses inadequate lighting, which a lot do to save $$$$, the screen overlay periodically will help the corals and anemones adjust to your lighting better.

 

I don't know for sure. I have tried this (not for 3 days though). But If I'm home, I'll screw with my lights occasionally.
I have left them off for about a day and a half or so every month.
EVERYTHING seems happy the light is back on afterward.

Speaking of weather flux, who wants to buy me a Solaris?
^They are supposed to have sequences where the lights will all dim as if a cloud passed over ass well as sunrise and sunset

 

here's info on Moving Light Systems

Feature Article

 

We have the MLS on three propagation systems and it does do a better job for coral coloration.. Slower growth But we take a plug of what is a white/blue acro and place it under constant none moving lamps and they turn off to a purple looking color .

I have always let mine have a few days of no M/H just VHO every month like yesterday all they had was VHO atanics.

 

I am inclined to your system...a few days off MH during month, maybe 1 or 2 days with just actinics...

Am going with that...

 

The reason this works is because of something called photoinhibition.

Here's a good article.

Feature Article

 

Funny you should mention that Curt as I just read about that today in my reef book!!!!

 

Tom,

I've seen this MANY times.

People set up a reef tank with fish and softies and overfeed and turn it into a cesspool.
Eventually they want to try SPS
Their SPS brown out and they are told they need to move up to 400w MH
As a result, they do the expensive upgrade
Their SPS color up over time because you can overcome cesspool conditions somewhat by doing this
Give it a little more time and, by now, they have learned their tank and how best to export excess waste. (Excess waste also produces brown SPS).
Their tank is now clean and corals actually start closing up before the lights turn off due to excess Oxygen produced by the zoox.

Basically, if you've learned your system and over time, you have become very good at removing excess nutrients from your tank, you will find that you no longer require 400W fixtures for 10 hours a day.

Watch your corals. They are telling you more than you think they are.