Light Time

[AllenLeicester]

Just wondering how many hours of the day do you put your lights on for?

 

[rsands]

George Farmer, a very knowledgeable person in planted tanks has his on for 5hours off 2 and then back on 5...the siesta of 2 hours is to help Co2 build up a guess.

Is the tank planted?

 

[AllenLeicester]

Not yet, will be soon!

 

[mcdanielnc89]

IMHO without it planted should be on 8 hours a day to reduce algae...

 

[Dave Spencer]

The five on, two off, five on idea is now outdated. All it does is prove that CO2 levels are too low if you need the two hour lights off period to build up CO2 levels again.

I find that certain stem plants start to pull their leaves in at around the ten hour period, suggesting they have had enough light, so ten hours is what I give them.

Dave.

 

[darkwolf29a]

IMHO without it planted should be on 8 hours a day to reduce algae...

That's what I have.

 

[rdd1952]

I have mine on for 4 hours in the morning and 6 in the evening with a 6 hour break in the middle. This is so that they are on when we are at home to view the tanks without haveing them on for16+ hours.

For an unplanted tank, I would only turn them on while you are there to view the fish. The fish certainly don't need the light. Most fish would prefer that the lights were never on.

 

[AllenLeicester]

I've set my timer from 2 afternoon till 11 at night! You think that will be ok when plants, fish are all in there?

 

[rdd1952]

That may be ok although that could be too little light depending on the type plants you have and their light requirements.

 

[AllenLeicester]

Are there any signs that you are not giving the tank enough light time ?

 

[Dave Spencer]

Nine hours will be fine as far as plants are concerned.

Dave.