Light ?

[JohnBull]

Currently have our new timer set to come on at 5-00pm every day now for 6 hours of use for the tank. Also switch lights on manually each morning before work Mon to Friday for 15 minutes when fish are fed.

Is this sufficient time ?



John.

 

[Tizer]

Im guessing the question is related to plants? If so yes, 6 hours is plenty.

If not plants, well, in theory you can have the lights on for the same amount of daylight hours in a day.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Currently have our new timer set to come on at 5-00pm every day now for 6 hours of use for the tank. Also switch lights on manually each morning before work Mon to Friday for 15 minutes when fish are fed.

Is this sufficient time ?

it wont really matter to your fish, so long as the lights aren't on 24hrs and they have a natural rest/sleep time that occurs at roughly the same time and duration each night.

it's only really critical if you have a planted tank, which may need more than 6hrs depending on plants and other external light sources.....but best ask in the planted section for advice on that one.

 

[JohnBull]

Im guessing the question is related to plants? If so yes, 6 hours is plenty.

If not plants, well, in theory you can have the lights on for the same amount of daylight hours in a day.

Dont have plants as such.

I was referring to how much light the fish need,dont like the idea of lighting the tank whilst house is all but empty during the day,Tank is in a shdy corner away from sunlight, so by setting the timer for 6 hours from 5 to 11 pm, is this now to much light for the fish ?



John.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I was referring to how much light the fish need,dont like the idea of lighting the tank whilst house is all but empty during the day,Tank is in a shdy corner away from sunlight, so by setting the timer for 6 hours from 5 to 11 pm, is this now to much light for the fish ?

John.

I don't think that will be an issue. You might notice that they get a bit jumpy when the lights go off and they plunge into darkness at 11pm, but they will only take a few seconds to settle down.

Fish dont actually 'need' the tank lights. As long as the tank isn't in a room with no light source then they will be fine. Most of their natural habitats are darker than we provide anyway.

 

[JohnBull]

I was referring to how much light the fish need,dont like the idea of lighting the tank whilst house is all but empty during the day,Tank is in a shdy corner away from sunlight, so by setting the timer for 6 hours from 5 to 11 pm, is this now to much light for the fish ?

John.

I don't think that will be an issue. You might notice that they get a bit jumpy when the lights go off and they plunge into darkness at 11pm, but they will only take a few seconds to settle down.

Fish dont actually 'need' the tank lights. As long as the tank isn't in a room with no light source then they will be fine. Most of their natural habitats are darker than we provide anyway.

Thats makes sense.

Fish go crazy when lights comes on in the morning for food though.


Thanks again.



John.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Thats makes sense.

Fish go crazy when lights comes on in the morning for food though.

sounds like they have developed quite a nice Pavlovian response.

Lights = food = go nuts!

 

[Mowbz]

As you dont have any plants, lights arent actually necesseary other than for viewing the fish. As Zoddy said above, the light we give our fish is often more than they would have had in the wild anyway, even just ambient room lighting.

I would recommend having the lights on when you are in the house to see the fish, so 5pm for 6 hours is perfect