lights on or off?

[goodreefer]

Hello Everyone, I've been here for some time now. Just reading and gathering info. Recently purchase a 8 gal. bio cube nice little tank I must say. I was born on 5/23/08 I put in my water,sand and rock. Iguess now for the wait...My ? is should I use my lights in this forever waiting period or not... no mods done to this unit yet. If there is any i'm open to any and all suggestions. looking forward on becoming a salt water addict...lol.
thanks in advance....Ramon

 

[KidNano]

definitely keep them off. It will keep your algae growth down. Nothing in the tank requires lighting yet. Once the cycle ends and you start putting life into it then flip the switch.

Good luck and :welcome to Nanotank.

 

[TimSchmidt]

The only reason I would use the lights would be to make sure there are no temp swings from light on and lights off. After determining this I agree with KidNano, nothing needs the light yet.

 

[goodreefer]

thanks for the input....when will i now the cycle has ended

 

[KidNano]

you'll know by purchasing a test kit. when the ammonia and nitrites both read '0'. Can take anywhere from a week to about 2 months. Just remember to be patient. If you purchased good live rock and live sand and don't have too much die off then it shouldn't be too long. ;-)
In the mean time read this.
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html

 

[goodreefer]

thanks so much...

 

[goodreefer]

ok I've tested my water and my readings are 0 with the exception of my ph which was 8.2 tank has been running for two weeks at a temp of 76/78. I assuming everything is going good?

 

[djconn]

What is your nitrate reading? and how long has it been cycling again?

 

[goodreefer]

nitrates was 0 and tank been up since 5/23

 

[TimSchmidt]

0s all the way? You should have SOME Nitrates at the end of your cycle IMO.

 

[goodreefer]

I'll do another test did one last monday

 

[Fishy]

Ramon, I just recently started my first ever saltwater or reef tank myself about a month before you. I have never registered any ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate in over 1.5 months. I was told my liverock was "pre-cured" so maybe yours was too? Does the live rock seem to have a lot of life on it? Mine was pretty dead. I turned the lights on for a few hours a day before I added my first animals (hermit crabs, snails didn't survive until my recent third attempt). I had them on a few hours so that some algae would grow for the future animals and so that any live critters in/on the live rock and live sand wouldn't die if they needed a little light.

 

[goodreefer]

thanks Fishy, the live rock I did purchase did have alot of purple coraline on it and very little green here and there. I just turned my lights on to see how things are going and there is a quite of bite of algae on my rocks as well as some sort of substance on my live sand.

 

[KidNano]

It's very possible if your LR had little to no die off that you had a very short cycle. how long was your LR out of water before you put it in your tank? I'm assuming you used Live sand as well? Did you get that from a bag or from someones tank? Was the sand dry or wet?

 

[TimSchmidt]

The stuff on your sand is more than likely your diatom bloom and is normal, usually happens near the end of you cycle. I used live rock (this stuff was in their tanks FOREVER) from a store not 10 minutes away and it was covered in wet paper and I put in a tank with live sand from a wet bag and I have a very quick cycle due to this

 

[goodreefer]

same here Tim. just did a water test ph 7.8, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, ammonia 0. everything good but ph should be a little higher yes....thanks for all the input Tim