Photo period of refugium?

[Trapper]

I'm in the early stages of planning a refugium for my tank which is a 135 all glass, thats been up 7 1/2 years. It seems to me that I'm not getting enough nutrient uptake as I would like so I'm approaching the problem by adding a refugim. Some of the other benefits of adding a refugium I'm looking forward to also, like the constant suplly of small crustaceans to feed my SPS. So I was trying to think of a way to enhance their delivery to my tank. I've observed those crustaceans seem to be more active at night which to me would indicate that the best time for the photo period of the refugium would be to have it match the time period of the main tank. Because night time is when the SPS, and LPS have their polyps expanded fully. But by having them on the same time period of the main tank would'nt create the PH balance that so many people talk about as beneficial. I was even thinking fo adding a small light ( a little christmas light bulb) near the overflow of the refugium to guide the little crustaceans into the main tank ( I'v enoticed they seem to be attracted to light ). Does this sound feasable or beneficial? Any comments?

[reefeze]

sounds just like what I would do. By flip-flopping the photoperiod with the tank (ie refugium off during day, on at night) you get a stabler pH (like you said... I wont go into details, since you probably know why). Also, I would turn the christmas light on at night also, to simulate night time during the sea, when plankton are most abundant.

[scubadude]

Jim!! your idea kinda spurred a memory in my mind, I remember doing some night fisihing out near the phosphate docks and there was an old light on the end of the docks and the shrimp and small feeder fish would just congregate around there in MASSIVE quantities! So yes I think your idea is totally up to snuff! granite I think the light was attracting bugs/mosquitoes which in turn maybe where feeding the fish, I also know that phytoplankton will grow on very low levels of light especially if its the ONLY light in the area, and where you have concentrations of phyto plankton you have concentrations of zooplankton. Maybe a small very porous rock near the moonlight would even help? Hows your new corals doing?