Lights Off

[trc]

Recently read an interesting thread on another forum about a reefer that turns his lights off for up to three days at a time every two to three months. Claims it gets rid of diatom blooms and helps rid his tank of algae. When he lights back up, he turns the atcinic's on for the first day and then regular lighting from there. Claims his tank and corals never looked better. Any thoughts out there?

 

[shavo]

interesting post, I am sure that corals don't always get full sunlight anyhow it might make sense but he has reasons for his diatom blooms that he is not addressing and masking it with his quick fix for diatom blooms at the expense of risking his corals. we are immitating nature with these extravagant set ups and i don't advise 3 days without sun.

I left my lights on for 4 days by accident a few months back and i torched alot of stuff. I agree that corals can bounce back once things are regulated again but i wouldn't turn lights off completely for days on end.

also maybe this tank gets alot of sunlight somehow, sounds hokie to me

 

[mr_X]

corals feed off of light. why would a 3 day absence of light be good?
if you don't eat for three days, are you healthier?

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah corals don't always get full sun. There's storms, clouds, etc etc. But can you really compare our puny lighting with daylight on even a stormy day on the equator? We're lucky that our corals are able to adapt to our lighting.

I wouldn't put too much stock in any single account of what works for someone. Everyone has a story like that. Instead of using several days of no light to get rid of diatom blooms, why not just rid the tank of the problem causing the diatom blooms?

 

[cindre2000]

As long as you feed your corals, and you know they are eating what you feed them. A short period of no light should not do them harm. However, if you are still getting diatom blooms, etc. You are not doing something right. You have to find the source of the problem.