When adding new rock to a new tank do the lights need to be

lil.guppy

New Member
I have a tank that has live sand but no fish. I am getting live rock shipped to me.
When I receive the rock, and place it in the tank do I have to keep the lights off or can I keep them on?
 

KoNP

New Member
The algae responsible for corals colours and whatnot are photosynthetic, so it makes sense to me that you'd want to leave the lights on. I mean, the rock doesn't have eyes to dazzle after all. I can't imagine the presence of light would do any damage, as long as it isn't searingly bright.

I am no expert, btw. Just stating what makes sense in my mind :p
 

TimSchmidt

New Member
True about the photosynthetic algae, but that algae only lives with the coral. So if you live rock doesn't have any coral on it then the choice is yours. I recommend leaving the lights on for the time cycle you choose for a day or two just to see if heat will be an issue. After that then there isn't anything with just live rock and live sand that needs light except nuisance algae.


:cool1:
 

Burgerking

New Member
What about the pieces of your cleanupcrew that eat algae? It might be beneficial to have a little algae in the tankfor when you add them, I know they'd be added after a few fish but I dont think it would hurt.
 

TimSchmidt

New Member
There will be plenty of algae. :) Diatoms will bloom more than likely and if all else fails you can feed the clean up crew.
 

lizvenables

New Member
i recently did a lot of research on this, its recomended to leave the lights off for around the first week to stop nusance algae growing during your rock cycling process.
Because of the amonia spike and then following nitrate spike you will have in the first week if you have regular lighting you will cause the largest algae bloom known to man.
Once your rock is cycled and your die off has finished you can turn the lights on for a few hours at a time for the first few days, then introduce your clean up crew and you can start regular lighting.
Also on fresh rock the introduction of rapid or bright lighting without breaking it in slowly can cause the rock to burn and appear bleached. (mine did this :cryinga: )
No lights no problems!
 
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