How soon are you turning your lights on?

[Kial]

Seen a few videos now about keeping lights off for a while to help the uglies etc...

Followed this on my last tank for a little while, not 4 months though as one video suggested. Still ran into the uglies and algea the same as I did with a tank that had lights straight away.

So is there actually any benefit to keeping the lights off, or best to just get it over with and continue?

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

I just ramp light up very slowly from very low intensity and add CUC on an as needed basis.

 

[Kial]

I

I just ramp light up very slowly from very low intensity and add CUC on an as needed basis.

Ive turned mine down to like 40% and think I'm just going to run them

 

[i cant think]

Seen a few videos now about keeping lights off for a while to help the uglies etc...

Followed this on my last tank for a little while, not 4 months though as one video suggested. Still ran into the uglies and algea the same as I did with a tank that had lights straight away.

So is there actually any benefit to keeping the lights off, or best to just get it over with and continue?

I leave mine on as is and it’s really 50/50 as to whether I run into the uglies or not straight away. Sometimes it’ll take nearly 6 months before I get uglies and other times I get uglies in the first week or two.

 

[90's reefer]

I go full schedule from day one.
I do use live rock though.
Dead rock, which I have used, in combination with live, gets the uglies but not the live.
Anyway just have a plan to deal with them before you start. Makes life much easier.

 

[KStatefan]

Mine were off for seven months in my opinion all it did was delay the uglies.

 

[Kial]

Mine were off for seven months in my opinion all it did was delay the uglies.

Yeah I think it just delays it as my last tank got them as well, and still got to a point I was fighting algea.

 

[SPR1968]

You don’t have to accept the uglies, you can avoid them.

I ran rowaphos from day 1 in my large system, and skipped the ugly stage completely, it’s all documented.

 

[FreeEnergyReefer]

7:15am to 10:15pm is my schedule. Put live rock in the tank there is no uglies or a assload of cleanup crew till ur rock gets some life on it

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Either way, it’s like a game of snooker mate. You’ve got to sink the brown and green before you get to the pink!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

7:15am to 10:15pm is my schedule. Put live rock in the tank there is no uglies or a assload of cleanup crew till ur rock gets some life on it

15hrs! Whoa I thought 12 was allot. I guess it helps keep ph up a few more hours...