No Lights for 3 Days Every Couple of Months Works Wonders! - Page 3

chem-e · 04/06/2007, 11:51 PM

I've turned off my lights for a day or two on occasion for different reasons. Usually it's because of algae such as HA or cyano because I think it gives my inverts a chance to catch up. I've also turned off lights when I introduce new fish to try and reduce tension. The last reason I turn off my lights is when my fish gets ich. If I see ich, I'll feed the fishes garlic soaked food, but I also leave the lights off because I think the fish is able to rest more and recover.

HowardW · 04/07/2007, 07:54 AM

Very interesting concept Aquabucket, and it appears your idea works very well for you judging by your beautiful tank pics.

I think doing this may also be a beneficial idea for people like myself who keep tanks with Florida aquacultured live rock which contains mostly filter feeder type life on it anyway. This rock is collected in the gulf and keys in fairly shallow water (about 20') however I am told the water is very turbid and many times the visibility is very poor and you can't see even a few feet in front of you, so I would imagine a pretty small percentage of sunlight actually reaches bottom where this rock thrives in the wild.

I already go some days with just running my 03 actinics, but I think I will now try going at least a couple days this week with lights out!

triggerfreak · 04/08/2007, 06:24 PM

I tried this on my 3 gallon picotope and it works great. No light for 3 days and all algae was gone. Thanks for the info.

cristhiam · 04/08/2007, 06:32 PM

Hey, my HA is looking weak after doing the 3 days, but I need another no lights session and see if I can finally WIN! great idea.

flrman · 04/08/2007, 06:58 PM

thanks for the info, i have a sea cucumber in the tank, will this 3 day dark period effect this guy. DOnt want him to nuke the tank.

Thanks

flrman · 04/08/2007, 07:17 PM

thanks for the info, i have a sea cucumber in the tank, will this 3 day dark period effect this guy. DOnt want him to nuke the tank.

Thanks

Misled · 04/08/2007, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flrman
thanks for the info, i have a sea cucumber in the tank, will this 3 day dark period effect this guy. DOnt want him to nuke the tank.

Thanks

It won't affect the cuke. I have one in a tank without any lights and he does fine.

Creade · 04/08/2007, 07:48 PM

I normally give my tank 1 day per month of no lighting.
As Aquabucket said, polyp extension is amazing the next day, much like that of a water change.

I think it does wonders in general.

I dont normally leave them off for 3 days though.

leeweber85 · 04/08/2007, 08:15 PM

hmm... My nano is having an algae problem... maybe I'll try this... the only thing is I don't have any inverts in there so I probably won't see any results...worth a shot though.

saltman123 · 04/08/2007, 08:39 PM

Interesting idea.....Nice Tank!

warr40 · 04/08/2007, 09:44 PM

when u guys did the lights out did u cover your tank or let ambient light(sunlight and room lights) shine threw

Aquabucket · 04/08/2007, 09:54 PM

My room gets plenty of ambient sunlight and the tank sits about 8 feet from a bay window.

warr40 · 04/08/2007, 10:00 PM

so wen u do the lights out do u put a sheet over the tank?

Aquabucket · 04/08/2007, 10:06 PM

No. The fish remain active and are fed and some LPS corals do open up. There is light but very little PAR value I would think.

My tank sits at a 90 degree angle and does not get direct sunlight. Each individual's tanks here are going to have varied ambient light so take this into consideration when attempting to go a full 3 days. Its probably best for most of you to try one day first and work your way up to more if you think its going to be OK. Having the tank off for 3 days will have a more lasting effect from my experience though.

warr40 · 04/08/2007, 10:07 PM

i just did a 2 day period with lights off and just now i put a sheet over the tank just to see the effects

2fishy · 04/08/2007, 10:59 PM

Are you seeing a lot of affects on diatom algae on the gravel? I seem to be fighting this from time to time and was thinking of giving this a shot to get rid of that.

Aquabucket · 04/08/2007, 11:24 PM

To kill off diatoms and keep them away for extended periods you will need to go the full 3 days. Diatoms are one of the reasons I started doing the 3 day thing. On my tank It takes about 2 months after a 3 day black out before a slight diatom ring begins to appear along low flow areas of my sand bed. Within days after they appear I start another 3 day black out. The period without diatoms is getting longer and longer in my case.

*Note every drop of water added to my tank has always had a reading of zero TDS since I use only a proven and tested brand of distilled water. I was always dumbfounded as to how I could still get diatoms from time to time. I am still trying to figure out were I am importing the silicates from.

2fishy · 04/08/2007, 11:30 PM

I seemed to have tried so many different things to the point of even using a coffee filter in a cup when thawing my frozen foods and then squeezing all of the juice out of the frozen foods before shaking the filter in the tank to feed the fish. Doing that or not doing that, really doesn't seem to make any difference.

Definately going to try the lights now!

je_unc · 04/09/2007, 03:38 PM

What brand of distilled water do you use, Aquabucket?

Aquabucket · 04/09/2007, 03:43 PM

Great Value ~ made in Chippewa Falls Wi. by Premium Waters INC. You can get it at wally world.

MrPike · 04/10/2007, 01:37 PM

Wonder if 3 days lights out would have any affect on those photosynthetic red flatworms

Cool thread btw.

2fishy · 04/10/2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquabucket
Great Value ~ made in Chippewa Falls Wi. by Premium Waters INC. You can get it at wally world.

I have some of this!! We use it in our humidifiers during the winter (electric heat really makes a house dry), and I top off my tank with it when the water level starts to get low. I usually use RO water for mixing saltwater.

Aquabucket, do you think that there could be a relation to diatoms and too much filter maintenance/cleaning of equipment? It might be a strange question, but after having surgery I couldn't do the regular tank maintenance that I had been doing, and went several weeks in between water changes and equipment maintenance compared to the regular weekly water changes & strict equipment maintenance I had been doing. It seemed that the diatoms actually got better due to the lack of, and now seem to be coming back worse now that I am doing it regularly. Just a thought.

Aquabucket · 04/10/2007, 01:58 PM

I do know first hand that diatoms love acrylic and other plastics. Whenever I put in a new coral rack at work the diatoms coat the rack in just a couple of days. After a few weeks the racks are diatom free.

Kengaroo131 · 04/10/2007, 01:59 PM

this is a good idea im going to start it tomorow i think i might only try 2 days to start off.

washingtond · 04/10/2007, 02:07 PM

Did you monitor the PH and Oxygen levels in the tank during the dark period? If so did you see any drop? If not why do you think that they did not?

04/06/2007, 11:51 PM	#51
chem-e Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,350	I've turned off my lights for a day or two on occasion for different reasons. Usually it's because of algae such as HA or cyano because I think it gives my inverts a chance to catch up. I've also turned off lights when I introduce new fish to try and reduce tension. The last reason I turn off my lights is when my fish gets ich. If I see ich, I'll feed the fishes garlic soaked food, but I also leave the lights off because I think the fish is able to rest more and recover. __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: Elos [~] 70 powered by Profilux

04/07/2007, 07:54 AM	#52
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	Very interesting concept Aquabucket, and it appears your idea works very well for you judging by your beautiful tank pics. I think doing this may also be a beneficial idea for people like myself who keep tanks with Florida aquacultured live rock which contains mostly filter feeder type life on it anyway. This rock is collected in the gulf and keys in fairly shallow water (about 20') however I am told the water is very turbid and many times the visibility is very poor and you can't see even a few feet in front of you, so I would imagine a pretty small percentage of sunlight actually reaches bottom where this rock thrives in the wild. I already go some days with just running my 03 actinics, but I think I will now try going at least a couple days this week with lights out! __________________ Florida live rock addict

04/08/2007, 06:32 PM	#54
cristhiam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groveland, FL Posts: 3,099	Hey, my HA is looking weak after doing the 3 days, but I need another no lights session and see if I can finally WIN! great idea. __________________ 2 yellows tail damsels, yellow watchman goby, tail spot blennie, purple pseudocromis, starry blennie, 2 clowns, 1 black clown, mandarine & Yellow tang Current Tank Info: 125 AGA, 3 40W 6500K, 3 110W URI Actinics, running on 2 IceCaps 660, CSS125

04/08/2007, 08:15 PM	#59
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	hmm... My nano is having an algae problem... maybe I'll try this... the only thing is I don't have any inverts in there so I probably won't see any results...worth a shot though. __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef

04/08/2007, 08:39 PM	#60
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	Interesting idea.....Nice Tank! __________________ 12 Gallon Aquapod. 4 Gallon Pico-Coming Soon Current Tank Info: 12 Gallon Aquapod

04/08/2007, 06:24 PM	#53
triggerfreak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, MI Posts: 1,032	I tried this on my 3 gallon picotope and it works great. No light for 3 days and all algae was gone. Thanks for the info.

04/08/2007, 06:58 PM	#55
flrman Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Batavia, IL Posts: 48	thanks for the info, i have a sea cucumber in the tank, will this 3 day dark period effect this guy. DOnt want him to nuke the tank. Thanks

04/08/2007, 07:17 PM	#56
flrman Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Batavia, IL Posts: 48	thanks for the info, i have a sea cucumber in the tank, will this 3 day dark period effect this guy. DOnt want him to nuke the tank. Thanks

04/08/2007, 07:48 PM	#58
Creade Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin Posts: 1,186	I normally give my tank 1 day per month of no lighting. As Aquabucket said, polyp extension is amazing the next day, much like that of a water change. I think it does wonders in general. I dont normally leave them off for 3 days though.

04/08/2007, 09:44 PM	#61
warr40 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: long island Posts: 442	when u guys did the lights out did u cover your tank or let ambient light(sunlight and room lights) shine threw __________________ ---click my red house to see my 40 Breeder reef--- Current Tank Info: 10g reef and 40B reef(pending)

04/08/2007, 09:54 PM	#62
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	My room gets plenty of ambient sunlight and the tank sits about 8 feet from a bay window. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

04/08/2007, 10:00 PM	#63
warr40 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: long island Posts: 442	so wen u do the lights out do u put a sheet over the tank? __________________ ---click my red house to see my 40 Breeder reef--- Current Tank Info: 10g reef and 40B reef(pending)

04/08/2007, 10:06 PM	#64
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	No. The fish remain active and are fed and some LPS corals do open up. There is light but very little PAR value I would think. My tank sits at a 90 degree angle and does not get direct sunlight. Each individual's tanks here are going to have varied ambient light so take this into consideration when attempting to go a full 3 days. Its probably best for most of you to try one day first and work your way up to more if you think its going to be OK. Having the tank off for 3 days will have a more lasting effect from my experience though. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

04/08/2007, 10:07 PM	#65
warr40 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: long island Posts: 442	i just did a 2 day period with lights off and just now i put a sheet over the tank just to see the effects __________________ ---click my red house to see my 40 Breeder reef--- Current Tank Info: 10g reef and 40B reef(pending)

04/08/2007, 10:59 PM	#66
2fishy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 918	Are you seeing a lot of affects on diatom algae on the gravel? I seem to be fighting this from time to time and was thinking of giving this a shot to get rid of that. __________________ Carole Current Tank Info: 55 gal

04/08/2007, 11:24 PM	#67
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	To kill off diatoms and keep them away for extended periods you will need to go the full 3 days. Diatoms are one of the reasons I started doing the 3 day thing. On my tank It takes about 2 months after a 3 day black out before a slight diatom ring begins to appear along low flow areas of my sand bed. Within days after they appear I start another 3 day black out. The period without diatoms is getting longer and longer in my case. Note every drop of water added to my tank has always had a reading of zero TDS since I use only a proven and tested brand of distilled water. I was always dumbfounded as to how I could still get diatoms from time to time. I am still trying to figure out were I am importing the silicates from. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket" Last edited by Aquabucket; 04/08/2007 at 11:31 PM.*

04/08/2007, 11:30 PM	#68
2fishy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 918	I seemed to have tried so many different things to the point of even using a coffee filter in a cup when thawing my frozen foods and then squeezing all of the juice out of the frozen foods before shaking the filter in the tank to feed the fish. Doing that or not doing that, really doesn't seem to make any difference. Definately going to try the lights now! __________________ Carole Current Tank Info: 55 gal

04/09/2007, 03:38 PM	#69
je_unc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chapel Hill Posts: 16	What brand of distilled water do you use, Aquabucket? __________________ - Justin

04/09/2007, 03:43 PM	#70
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	Great Value ~ made in Chippewa Falls Wi. by Premium Waters INC. You can get it at wally world. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

04/10/2007, 01:37 PM	#71
MrPike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 718	Wonder if 3 days lights out would have any affect on those photosynthetic red flatworms Cool thread btw.

04/10/2007, 01:58 PM	#73
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	I do know first hand that diatoms love acrylic and other plastics. Whenever I put in a new coral rack at work the diatoms coat the rack in just a couple of days. After a few weeks the racks are diatom free. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

04/10/2007, 01:59 PM	#74
Kengaroo131 Fish Crazy Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jupiter, Florida Posts: 1,361	this is a good idea im going to start it tomorow i think i might only try 2 days to start off. __________________ ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef, 12 gallon bookshelf reef

04/10/2007, 02:07 PM	#75
washingtond Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carrollton, Texas Posts: 360	Did you monitor the PH and Oxygen levels in the tank during the dark period? If so did you see any drop? If not why do you think that they did not? __________________ David - Member of DFWMAS . Current Tank Info: 200/75g reef tank with Fuge/Sumps, Aqua C skimmer. 250 XMs, auto top off systems, JBJ Chiller Geo Reactor.