How long do you leave your aquarium lights on for?

[Tenko]

Just a quick question, I have a well planted tank and have them on for about 9-10 hours, is that too much? I've been advised to cut the light back to 4 hours a day, what do you recommend?

 

[canarsie11]

I have read no more than 12hrs a day, so I guess you are ok. However, maybe someone with a little more experience can let you know!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I think for planted tanks 8-12 hours is good.

I have mine on from 10.00 - 22.30 all on timers

 

[swimmy103]

what abput this, My fish tank is in my basement so if i dont have the light on it is pitch black? i have no real plants. What would u do?

 

[Idolz]

what abput this, My fish tank is in my basement so if i dont have the light on it is pitch black? i have no real plants. What would u do?

What would I do? I would plug my lights into a timer and set it to be on for 10.5 hours a day or so.

 

[Dwarfs]

I have a timer so they go on at 9 am and off at 11 pm

 

[cometcattle]

I keep my lights on for 10 hours in my planted tank.

 

[Drac39]

I turn them on when I get home from school,and turn them off when I go to bed. Though I only have a Pleco in there,when I get more fish,I`ll leave it on longer

 

[gixer]

what abput this, My fish tank is in my basement so if i dont have the light on it is pitch black? i have no real plants. What would u do?

What would I do? I would plug my lights into a timer and set it to be on for 10.5 hours a day or so.

no need if no live plants....6-8 hours if fine

 

[swimmy103]

so my fish will be ok in pitch black?

 

[Stryker]

My lights come on at 9:30am and turn off at 11:30pm. Lets face it, in the hight of the summer our fish have light from 5am - midnight..... unless you got blackout curtains.

As for the chap with the basement. Ever considered getting a moonlight CF tank light and mounting it on the basement ceiling giving your tanks a *little* light when the main tank lights are off. So long as your tanks have plants and rocks, the fish then have the choice of hanging out in the dim moonlight of a night or kipping in the shadows.

When ever I have a choice like you have, for example over light, I usually try to find a solution when the fish get to choose.... you may laugh your socks off but that principle has worked very well for me to date

 

[I <3 fish]

always.....

 

[freshwaterfishlover]

2 of my Planted tanks I leave the light on 12 hours a day and the plants grew Rapidly. One planted tank I leave the light on 6 1/2 hours a day and the plants don't die, but do not grown fast.

 

[lym]

I used to have mine on for 12 hours a day but I started to get a lot of algae so I cut back to 8-9 hours per day.

 

[freshwaterfishlover]

My lights come on at 9:30am and turn off at 11:30pm. Lets face it, in the hight of the summer our fish have light from 5am - midnight..... unless you got blackout curtains.

Here on the East Cost of the USA In the summer the sun comes up at 6AM goes down 8PM. Man you have lots of day light.