Tank Lights On or Off When Cycling for the First Time?

[statto]

Hello all,
Is it benificial to have the tank lights on when you cycle the tank for the first time?
Cheers
Statto

 

[aquaguy24]

i left mines off..i barely had any algea blooms...tank is 5 months old now and only had to deal with a little diatom on the sand but that was it..it went away by itself anyways..

 

[jwilson]

General consensus that I have read is off for the first week or two, then on. This is to help prevent algae blooms.