How do you light your fuge?

[saltwaterdave]

I was wondering what sort of light cycles ya'll use on your fuge.Do you run it 24/7 and if you do why? Do you run it opposite of your Main tank lights and if you do why?
I just got the light going over my fuge for my new tank,which is cycling nicely .I just need to figure out how I need to run the light on it,it is just one of them cheap LOA lights you can get at wally world,but it does light it up quite nice,my fuge is a home-made acrylic tank,that drains into my sump,I believe it is around 30 gallons. I also have a 4" sand bed in the fuge,and I plan on putting some live rock rubble in it,for my pods and stuff.
TIA,
David

[kevinpo]

I run mine on a reverse lighting cycle 12 hours. It helps prevent the drop in PH which occurs at night.

Regards,
Kevin

[Minh Nguyen]

Like Kevin, I light my refugium in reverse from the main tank. It does help in keeping pH constance. I use 2250 W MH for my refugium ( a 125 g tank)

[jsaltzgi]

I differ from the above two in that my refugium lights are on 24/7. I use 4 75 watt VHO bulbs. Mh ph runs 8.3 before lights out to a little below 8.0 before the lights come on in the morning.

I am moving the tank in a few weeks and willl be significantly enlarging the sump/ refugium (30 gallons to a 150 gallon rubbermaid stock tank plus refugium) and will probably try the reverse daylight period to see what happens with the pH swing during and shortly following the new ammonia cycle.

James

[Minh Nguyen]

There are animals that come out to eat and do their things in the dark. That is the reason why I have darkness in my sump. It is more natural, IMO. I strive to provide natual conditions for my animals. I think it is important for the life cycles of various animals in the refugium.
Minh N

[Bughead]

I agree with Minh. For awhile I ran my sump lights 24/7 and my caulerpa didn't do as well. Now I give the sump an 8 hour resting period during the day. I'm back to having a jungle in there.

[Poseidon]

MIne runs 24/7 with just the algae in there no real critters as of yet and the stuff is growing like mad. I was going to do opposite main lights but since I have no live sand or copepods to speak of why not give the plants more light?

[saltwaterdave]

Thank you all
I am thinking of doing the reverse lighting deal. Since my tank is still cycling and I have a 0 ammonia according to my test kit,but the NO2 is high.(I havn'nt checked it in a couple of days),do you think it would be ok to put some macro alage in the fuge now even though it is still cycling? My main reason is I really need to prune it back in my 30. I do not want to throw it away and I have put some in my QT tank already.
Next guestion is my fuge is 30" long about 9 1/2" wide and about 16" deep,will a single LOA light from wally world be enough to keep the fuge going? The Loa light is a 65 watt work light kind of deal,it has a 6500 kelvin bulb,will one work or should I add 2 of them?I am still a long way off from adding any live stock to the tank.This is gonna be a painfully slow deal
I really appreciate all the help you guys and Ladies have given me
TIA,
David

[Minh Nguyen]

Ammonia and nitrite are OK for macro-algae. They feed on the stuff.
The more light the better. One LOA is OK but two LOA lights is better for the algae
Minh

[saltwaterdave]

Thanks,
I will add the 2nd light and I have already put some Alage in it
David