Live Rock in the dark?

[FishTV]

Is there a down side to keeping the majority of my live rock in a dark sump? I want to move the majority of my live rock out of my frag tank, and into something like a rubermaid brute, that drains into my main fuge/sump. If I ran enough circulation in the brute does the live rock actually need any light? I made it live without light, but is there any kind of long term down side?

 

[Haulin Oates]

Live Rock in the dark?

The only down side is it won't grow any coraline algae. However, if your going to take it out, and still have it connected to your system, it may have done die off that could get flushed into the rest off your system if your not careful.

 

[FishTV]

Live Rock in the dark?

Yea, the system is fairly new, and really doesn't have a lot of external growth right now. That's why I'm thinking of doing it now before I have to go get a larger cuc. I figure if its in the dark I shouldn't have as much surface for algae. Turn it into a sponge paradise, haha.

 

[daverf]

i believe this would be close to a cryptic fuge. you can research it to see why people run them, how to set one up if it is your intention to use one, etc. DJKMS runs one, in his build thread.

photosynthetic life will stop growing on your rock, all else on it will survive.

 

[FishTV]

Live Rock in the dark?

Thanks for the info, doing a little research.