lighting in refugium

[twisted]

I searched the sticky and couldnt find the answer so here it is:
why is it recommended to run the refugium light cycle opposite to the tank?

[Parrothead]

for one it helps stabilze ph swings, I think i heard that here

[twisted]

i never noticed any drastic swings. my ph stays pretty stable. i thought it had to do with the life in the refugium. if its only for ph i guess ill keep it the way it is

[Parrothead]

Twisty,

I can't say for certain that is the only reason, I still working on the whole fuge concept myself, might want to wait on the others to kick in here, I know there is more reasons, I just can't think of them at the moment

[twisted]

i'll hang. i was thinking it might be to give safer tranfer of refugium life to the main tank. kinda give them a chance to arrive at night?

[Steve McKay]

Your ph drops when the lights are out as everything consumes less CO2 when
they don't have to photosynthesize.When you run the fuge on an opposite light cycle,you always have something consuming CO2 (macro/micro algae, bacteria, etc),keeping your ph more stable.

[twisted]

well, if thats the right way to do things i'll set a timer on the refuge light. do you think i need to gradually change the light down there? if i just do it, that means that it will have either a long dark period or light....the tanks lights are on from 10am till 9pm

[Steve McKay]

I wouldn't change the photoperiod on the tank,do what you usually do.Run the lights in the fuge from 9pm to 10am,the longer the lights are on in the fuge the more nutrients the macroalgae will consume.

[twisted]

i wouldnt change the tank light, what i meant was should i just keep the lights on in the fuge for the day and night and let it kick off the next cycle. or should i adjust the fuge lights slowly till they are on only at night.

[Steve McKay]

Just change them if you don't have anything in the fuge that you would scare to death.

[twisted]

just tigger pods, snails, hermies, worms, xenia, and regular copepods. they should be okay, but maybe ill take a few days to adjust the lighting. thanks man

[Steve McKay]

I didn't know you had corals in your fuge.

[twisted]

some xenia just ended up down there. i think my maroon clown spit them into the over flow....when he's cleaning his anenome cave, he swims up top and spits the little crushed coral pieces into the over flow along with anything else he doesnt want near his cave. so ive learned to keep stuff away from his home....lol

[Steve McKay]

That's the same one that feeds the anemone,smart fish,to know where the trash can is.

[twisted]

he is a smart fella....he keeps the cave spotless...i think he might be the one that turns my tv on in the middle of the night

[Steve McKay]

Thinks he's a bad boy huh.

[Parrothead]

he is a smart fella....he keeps the cave spotless...i think he might be the one that turns my tv on in the middle of the night

So, He's into late night infomericals, or is he getting into the pay per view section, you know, clown fish gone wild at Mardi Gras

[metalhead]

Let's keep this one going...

What kind of lights are you all running on your fuge and what kind of algae are you growing for nutrient export?

[Steve McKay]

I don't have a fuge myself.If I did I'd grow the funny *****.

[Parrothead]

Be good Steve

you can use alot of different lights, alot of people use the metal reflector mofos from home depot, you know the ones with the clamp on them