Lighting & Plants

[lym]

I know when you have fish in a tank you should only have the lighting on 8-10 hours per day. I'm currently cycling my tank with no fish and I was wondering if I could keep the light on longer for the plants?? Would it help them grow more??

 

[Katchan]

Lym you can actually have it on up to 12 hours or so I'm told (mine are closer to 15 ), The two big variables here are a-whats good for the fish, and b-to much light can produce to much algae. So to answer you question lots of light is fine with no fish but you may want to consider the algae side effects

HTH

Andrew

 

[lym]

Ok, thanks for your help.

 

[sarena_rye]

I agree with Katchan about the light effects on the fish for future referrence. In order to help answer your question for the plants I need a bit more information though.

1. What types of plants do you have in the tank and how many of each? (common plant names are fine)
2. What kind of lighting are you using? (flourescent, halide, etc. and the wattage of each bulb and number of bulbs)
3. How far are you through your cycle?
4. What size is the tank?
5. Kind of filtration?
6. Are you using an Airstone? (which isn't necessarily needed in a planted tank and many suggest not using one)

I know it's a lot of questions, but it really does make a difference when it comes to the lighting time and amount needed for a planted tank.

 

[thegnu]

plants need as much dark as they do light for their "cycle" as they take in different gasses and different growth rates so they don't use up certain stuff too quickly. too much light can inadvertently kill them