FWIW As soon as seeds break the surface they should get *some* light. That's how I've always done it.

The only real point to not using the lights to germinate is that it is wasteful. Seeds don't need light. I've germed under lights, when I thought a little more heat would be beneficial.

With regard to lighting up the LEDs, I got nothin'. Some light is desired, unsure if the LEDs would be too much at this point. But the just germed seedling/sprout is looking for light of some kind.