Do you keep you fuge light on 24/7?

[Nano-Newb1983]

How long do you keep your fuge lights on for?

I have run mine 24/7, do you think that too much?

thanks
mark

[AZDesertRat]

No, I keep it on opposite the display tank lighting. Supposedly it helps keep the pH more stable but I don't know if thats fact or not.

[CalmSeasQuest]

No. Reverse lit with Cheato to support diurnal pH swings.

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by CalmSeasQuest

No. Reverse lit with Cheato to support diurnal pH swings.

thats what i was thinking, so you get that drop in pH so the water can take in the trace elements better.

[jimsflies]

Reverse lighting will help even out the pH swing that naturally occurs from day to night. This is due to photosynthesis being shut down in the main tank (normally performed by the zoanthelle in the coral tissue) however respiration by fish continues when the lights are off in the display. But by running a light in the refugium when your display light is off, you continue to support photosynthesis by the macro algae. Photosynthesis is important because it utilizes CO2 and converts it to oxygen. Excess CO2 is a relevant because it lowers pH...being that in water it forms carbonic acid.

EDIT- If you keep caluerpa, you should leave your lights on 24/7 as this supposedly prevents it from reproducing and getting into your display. This risk of caluerpa infestation out weighs the benefit derived by reverse lighting. Chateo is a macro that tends to work out better with reverse refugium lighting.

[Manoj's Reef]

Originally Posted by jimsflies

EDIT- If you keep caluerpa, you should leave your lights on 24/7 as this supposedly prevents it from reproducing and getting into your display. This risk of caluerpa infestation out weighs the benefit derived by reverse lighting. Chateo is a macro that tends to work out better with reverse refugium lighting.

+1 , I have caluerpa thats why I run it 24/7.

[chort55]

I don't even run a fuge light, but like jim and others said.... chaeto run it opposite the display, calurpa run it 24/7 as it seems to prevent it from going asexual and being able to take over your display quite easily!

[Nano-Newb1983]

cool, thanks for replies. i will have to set a timer