Are Bulbs Necessary?

[Fintastic!]

The bulb that came with our 10 gal hex hasn't work since we got it so we've never had a light on. Is this ok or is it better for the fish if we had one? What are the advantages? Thanks.

 

[Louiseness]

The fish don't care whether you have a light or not

There are two main benefits to lights: Growing plants and being able to see the fish more clearly.

 

[Rickzayne]

The light is only for plants and letting you see the fish better.

You don't NEED one.

 

[ZoddyZod]

The fish don't care whether you have a light or not

There are two main benefits to lights: Growing plants and being able to see the fish more clearly.

+1

 

[KittyKat]

I feel that lighting is, at least to some extent, compulsory.. how would you like to spend your life in a twilight environment?

Also, lighting is a requirement for plants and without live plants, you do create more work for yourself and the fish are not in as good an environment as they could be.

 

[micko]

You do not need a light.

The advantages of having light is that you can grow live plants.
Depending on where you have your tank you can still grow plant sucessfully with only sunlight, I have a tank with no lid or light and have a tank full of plants. This is by the direct sunlight it recieves as its right beside a window.

 

[Fintastic!]

Thanks guys! Our tank is beside a window and gets lots of light so that's fine.

 

[Jamepsss]

Agree with the above but aesthetically a tank is much better with a light. If you have the light fixture why not get a new bulb? And then you can plant it too!

 

[ZoddyZod]

I feel that lighting is, at least to some extent, compulsory.. how would you like to spend your life in a twilight environment?

although that would depend on tank position. If it's not near any natural light source then I agree that a light should be used. But if it's sits next to a window I would argue that the strength of light and the gentle changes from night to day would be a much more natural setting for the fish.

 

[micko]

And then you can plant it too!

You can still plant it regardless, dependant on whether its near natural light.
I done it but it was just by accident more than knowing what I was doing. I'd hoped to just keep spare plants in there for a day or two.

 

[Fintastic!]

I'm planning on switching from gravel to sand and adding plants but not until I know what I'm doing.

 

[KISSfn]

I did exactly that and I don't know what I'm doing. But there's a lot of good people here to help us!