Light Timings

[craig855s]

I currently,as you may have read, have a small 19L tank with 3 zebra danios and 5 herlequin rasbora in (i know its too small,big one is coming) and im wondering what time of day i should be putting the light on and off... The tank is in the corner of the room a good 6ft from the window (on the same wall) so direct sunlight never hits it and its quite dull in said corner..the light i have in the small tank is just an LED spot light thing with 5 LEDs. Its quite a narrow beam of light so i'd say the top left corner and top centre area of the tank and the very bottom left corner are not exactly uber bright even when the light is on. no live plants in the tank..

When should i put the light on and turn it off? Currently im turning it on at 5PM..feeding time at 6PM and turning it off as soon as i come downstairs in the morning (between 6 and 7AM)

 

[dcarmor927]

i dont think it really matters that much as long as you are turning the lights out...I have my 55 gal on a timer from 10-10 and i do my 10 gallon by hand, it always depends when i turn it on/ off, but it always gets about 10-12 hrs of light

 

[craig855s]

will the fish sleep during the daytime then when the light is off..obviously there is still natural light but it is dull...or should i switch to lights on all day and have them off at night..meaning the fish would be in pitch darkness from 11PM til 6AM or so?

 

[s007]

Some fish will rest from time to time but i wouldnt say sleep , all depend on what fish u talking about some acive during the day some only during the night. Most ppl on here prefer siesta timimg again: (5 on : 2 off : 5 on) the plants recognise that there is 12 hours of light even though the tank actually illuminated for 10 hours.

I really do suggest you read this thread all about lights: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=96754