Lights while curing live rock?

Hi all. I am curing about 100 pounds of live rock in my tank right now (tank is otherwise empty, with 4 powerheads, my 30 gallon sump, and protein skimmer all active). Would it be helpful for me to have lights on, or harmful (I have heard either opinion, and I am eager for other opinions).

Thanks.

 

Well I would leave the lights off... The only thing it will benefit is algae growth... Unless you have sometime of photosynthesis item you need to keep alive, but chances are that it wont survive the curing process anyways... I would say to leave them off, waste of electricity and bulb life...

Best of Luck

 

I'm just getting started in reefs and was also told to keep lights off during cycle, mostly just because the rocks don't care.... Still, I have a 2 x 48" shop light style deal on the tank just so I can see the progress and marvel at the life that's already spinging up 72 hours into my cycle. I have about a billion copepods, coraline, some kind of sponge, hydras, and tube worms... I don't woy about when they're off or on.... it's just for curious viewing as I paiently await my cycle to complete and I can add a few intentional critters.

 

if you use lighting during the cycle you may develop bad algae , but i have cycled many tanks with the lights on. i would just say if you want the lights on watch out for virulent algaes such as hair or bubble.

it is probably in your best interest to leave them off. it will short cut part of your algae blooms, and a lot of you pods will hide if turn the lighting on

 

I think I am OK in saying you can turn your skimmer off also - and leave it off until tank has cyled and you add your 1st target purchased live stock

Steve

 

I would continue to run your skimmer. You do need to export the excess dieoff and the waste that is associated with that otherwise, you will most certain be entertaining a bad algae problem when your done cooking your rocks. I agree that lights off is the best to deter algae growth during this period of instability.