Lights In A Refugium

[DAN-O]

Just Added A Refugium To My Tank. Have Been Told To Leave The Lights On 24/7 And Others Have Told Me To Have Them On A Timer Opposite Of The Time That Tank Lights Are On. I HAVE A 180 GALLON REEF TANK WITH FISH AND THE REFUIGUM IS A ADHI MODEL 45. ALSO MY LIVE ROCK SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF GRAYISH BROWN DUST ALL OVER IT. Any Suggestions?

 

[autoponicz]

was the brown dust before or after the fuge?
lighting thr fuge is a personal preference....i light mine on a reverse light schedule....some also keep it on 24/7
..do what works for you...try both and see what happens...

 

[Killerdrgn]

The brown dust is probably diatoms. You should also probably have the lights on the refugium on an opposite schedule of your main tank lights.
AND YOU SHOULD NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS, it is bad etiquette.

 

[DAN-O]

Sorry, new to this. Thanks for the tips

 

[DAN-O]

Dust was before the refuge. My tank did have some dusty particles in the water at first but that has cleared up.

 

[Wes]

the "dust" may just be detritus, but it's hard to guess w/out pics.

People use both methods. It can also depend on what type of macro algae you are growing in your refugium. I have read that 24/7 lighting helps prevent caulerpa from going sexual. But im not sure if there is any truth to that.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have done both 24/7 cycles and opposite schedules. Both were fine for me the 24/7 schedule had a lot more macro algae growth due to more constant light.