How Long Do Fish Need Darkness For?

[CrystalClear16]

I switch off the tank lights when I go to bed (usually around 11:30pm). My partner however has a habit of staying up later (sometimes to 2 or 3 am), so while the lights are off the main light in the room is on (plus the flickering light of the TV). I then get up and switch the light on and feed them at roughly 8am.

Unfortunatly even if I left the light off in the morning, they would still be light in the room as I open the blinds and watch the news.

Is this going to cause the fish stress? We do have plants, caves and dark places for them to hide. Unfortunatly out apartment is to small to have them anywhere other than the living room.

 

[kelly528]

Natural room light is fine for them, since it doesn't light the tank up very well. If you keep live plants in the aquarium, the maximum amount of time you want to leave the lights on is for 8 hours. If not, you only need to turn the light on for aesthetic purpose/ when you are observing them. Fish need a day/night cycle, but natural light will do just fine for this purpose.

 

[CrystalClear16]

Thanks for your response.

We do have live plants, but the light is often on for longer than 8hrs. We tend to view them in the evening after it has become dark outside.

Should I leave the light off in the morning and switch it on later in the day? Is it ok to switch the light on and off throughout the day (perhaps when we are going out)?

 

[crazychris]

Yes I'd leave the light off until later in the day. Why not buy an automatic plug-in timer like I have? They're only about £5 in Tesco. You could set it for say 3 to 11 pm and feed them in the evening instead of morning? It's fine for them then to be in room-light until your partner goes to bed. Fish only really need one feed a day anyway, despite what it says on the tubs of fish food. More feeds = you buy more!

 

[kelly528]

Yes I'd leave the light off until later in the day. Why not buy an automatic plug-in timer like I have? They're only about £5 in Tesco. You could set it for say 3 to 11 pm and feed them in the evening instead of morning? It's fine for them then to be in room-light until your partner goes to bed. Fish only really need one feed a day anyway, despite what it says on the tubs of fish food. More feeds = you buy more!

Yupp this is exactly what I do. The timer's on from 3-11 and I feed them when I get home from work at 6.