How long should the lights be on?

[JemZ]

Hello everyone

I've had a tank for 3 years now, but have been recently wondering if I've been timing their lighting properly. I turn the blue light on when I wake them up in the morning around 5:00 a.m., leave the blue light on until 2:20 p.m. when I turn on the white light and feed them, then turn it back to blue around 5:30 and leave it on blue until lights out. Is this the right amount of time for each light?

 

[HoldenOn]

Fish need at least 6 hours of complete darkness. I tone my lights up at 8 a.m. and they reach max light by 9 a.m. and begin fading at 6 p.m. and are off by 7 p.m.

 

[JemZ]

I put them to bed around 8:15. My lights don't fade, there is just blue, white, and off. What would you recommend for the white light?

 

[HoldenOn]

I don't think the color of the light has much impact on the fish. Do you have plants? @Colin_T has some light knowledge!

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I assume this is not a planted tank? I would just turn the white lights on in the morning and turn them off at sunset. With plants it pays to be a little more exact, but for an unplanted tank it's just a matter of creating a semi-natural day cycle for fish.

 

[JemZ]

It is an unplanted tank, and I just wanted to make sure I'm giving them the right amount of light. The only issue I would have with turning the white light on first thing in the morning is that they are used to the blue light in the morning as well as the fact that they associate the white light with food. Maybe I could gradually turn the white light on earlier and earlier?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I think they'd get over that pretty quickly. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[AbbeysDad]

As mentioned, fish need a period of darkness for circadian rhythm. If it was a planted tank, you would need a 6 - 10 hour photo period depending on the light. Since it's not planted, lighting is more for your viewing pleasure as fish don't need much light. In the wild waters are often murky and there's lots of shade under the forest canape. Fish don't have eyelids so it's best to have room lights on before tank lights come on.
About 4 1/2 years ago I put a Finnex Planted Plus 24/7 on my 60g planted tank. Running in 24/7 mode (dawn to dusk) is surreal and takes the planted tank to the next natural level.

 

[JemZ]

Interesting. I've always turned their lights on without turning on room lights first. Also, when I put them to bed around 8, I put towels around the tank for darkness. I do this because others in my household stay up until around 11 p.m. with the t.v. and other lights on. The tank is right next to the t.v.

 

[Retired Viking]

Interesting. I've always turned their lights on without turning on room lights first. Also, when I put them to bed around 8, I put towels around the tank for darkness. I do this because others in my household stay up until around 11 p.m. with the t.v. and other lights on. The tank is right next to the t.v.

I also started covering my tank at night, my tank light go off a 9pm and the room lights at 10pm but we have a large flat screen TV so if we watch a movie the tank is covered.

 

[itiwhetu]

I start with 10 hours and then adjust up or down depending on plant species and the amount of natural light that hits the tank. This can vary season to season. If you like to watch the fish in the evening then have the lights come on at 12.00pm off at 10.00 pm. Feed the fish at dinner time.