Do I have to leave the light on my refugium all the time-?

[gtdarock]

Hey guys ! My 175 has been running for 2 months. Everything is working fine. I just added some calupra to my refugium and I have a small T5 light on it. I was wondering if I need to keep the light on 24/7. Anyhelp would be great, thanks !

 

[perfectdark]

No.. people usually cylcle there fuge lights opposite their DT lights. 8 hrs is sufficient.

 

[gtdarock]

Ok. Thanks

 

[bkoz]

From what I understand with calupra if you dont leave your light on it could start sexing. If you see it turning brown id get it out of there. I cycle my lights and havent had a problem yet but i'll be switching to chaeto soon as my local guy gets some in.

 

[peckhead]

i do chaeto and leaveit on 24/7

 

[rookum]

i dont have one but i was told that you run it when your tank light are off to keep to keep the ph in check, someone let me know if thats wrong. good luck

 

[frankthetank]

I have also heard to run it opposite of your DT lights. And this is what I do.
But I have seen people run them 24/7 too.

 

[michaeltx]

I run mine 24/7 you can do either or and yes it helps keep the PH up during the night the PH will drop because of the photosythesis that has stopped in the tank. cant explain the exact reasons why though soething to research abit.
Mike

 

[hurt]

Since you are using Caulerpa as your macro, you certainly should leave the lights on 24/7 if you wish to attempt to keep it from going sexual. Caulerpa however has several ill side effects I am not fond of, and that is why I use chaetomorpha. Most every other macroalgae besides certain caulerpa's should be kept on a 12/12 light schedule. Most all species of macro's will suffer from a lack of respiration(night-no lights) when lit 24/7 with the exception of caulerpa's.
MichaelTX, pH drops at night, because the algae in our DT's doesn't receive light, therefore they quit giving off O2 and instead give off CO2. The CO2 rise is what lowers pH, no different than a Ca reactor. Macroalgae absorbs CO2 as it grows and gives off O2.

 

[michaeltx]

yeah thats it I just could not for the life of me remember it last night for some reason thanks.
Mike

 

[jonthefishguy]

reverse photosynthesis is not something you want to do with caulerpa. However it seems to be fine for everything else. I have 13 mangrove trees in my refuge and i never turn out the lights and they do just fine.

 

[big]

Originally Posted by rookum
i dont have one but i was told that you run it when your tank light are off to keep to keep the ph in check, someone let me know if thats wrong. good luck

I have found my PH is much more stable when I leave the sump-fuge on 24/7

 

[wbradenpt]

Originally Posted by Hurt
Since you are using Caulerpa as your macro, you certainly should leave the lights on 24/7 if you wish to attempt to keep it from going sexual. Caulerpa however has several ill side effects I am not fond of, and that is why I use chaetomorpha. Most every other macroalgae besides certain caulerpa's should be kept on a 12/12 light schedule. Most all species of macro's will suffer from a lack of respiration(night-no lights) when lit 24/7 with the exception of caulerpa's.
MichaelTX, pH drops at night, because the algae in our DT's doesn't receive light, therefore they quit giving off O2 and instead give off CO2. The CO2 rise is what lowers pH, no different than a Ca reactor. Macroalgae absorbs CO2 as it grows and gives off O2.
i had it in my old set up. never again. even though it was in refugium, somehow it made its way to main tank overflow, and was never able to get rid of it. it kept coming back. if i had advice to give, it would be switch while you still can.