Does Live Rock Require Light?

[SPO-00L]

Hi Guys,

Sorry if this question sounds stupid, i did a quick search on the forums and didnt find anything. But Does live rock (cured)require light? Im in the process of converting a 6x2x2.5 tank to marine and i want to get some decent lights for it which i know wont be cheap. However i wanted to get the cycle underway.

Cheers, Trent

 

[-Nemo-]

I would say yes, it would be nice, but not too vital. Light would certainly help all the goodies grow. If nothing else, stick any kind of fluorescent light on top for now, like a desklamp etc.

 

[SPO-00L]

Thanks nemo, i have not set up the tank yet, however got the lighting system ordered and it will be here in a day or 2. Im nearly ready to fill it with water, but i have not got my chiller yet (living in aus the standard water temp during the day with no heater is about 27 deg c), however with the light the water temp may get to between 28 - 30.

Does the rock need to be kept below a certain temp?

Cheers, Trent

 

[Harry1996]

i would say that you do need some sort of light in there because most things like 99% of life needs light in the world. or the things in the rock that eat algea will die because there isint any light for the algea to grow.

 

[ben1987]

the bacteria that filters the tank water will be fine with no light.

The purple corraline will fade though.

 

[steelhealr]

Live rock per se does NOT need light. You could cycle a marine tank in the dark. However, if you are looking to nurture whatever is living on it that is 'hiding', eg, if you bought uncured, then light IS necessary.

A good practice is to slowly increase the lighting interval when you first start your tank to avoid shocking and destroying surviving photosynthetic organisms. Some coralline die off is always expected. Also, when changing your fluorescents after a year, it is a good idea to change one bank at a time.

Cheers.
SH