Lighting Schedule

[Holm_Tanks.]

First of all thank you to all the people that have answered my past questions in the journey of my first planted tank!

Aquarium specs
29 gallon
75 degrees f
serpae tetras, corydoras, bn pleco, cherry shrimp (all doing great together)
nicrew full spectrum light
canister filter

My plants include, Jungle vals, ludwigia repens, staurigyne repens, wysteria, java fern, java moss, dwarf sag, anubias nana petite, monte carlo

My question is about the light schedule, I currently have it on at the highest of 6 intensity levels and on for 6.5 hours a day. The plants are doing fine and growing, along with just a bit of hair algae (very minimal)

I would like the monte carlo to carpet and the plants to really thrive along with my fish to be comfortable.
I've heard the serpae tetras like lower light intensity.
I feel like I should have a longer "lights on" period especially to make the monte carlo to carpet well.
So, should it be on longer?
Should I put it on a lower intensity or would it be better on full?

 

[Colin_T]

Stress from tank lights coming on when the room is dark can be an issue. Fish don't have eyelids and don't tolerate going from complete dark to bright light (or vice versa) instantly.

In the morning open the curtains or turn the room light on at least 30 minutes (or more) before turning the tank light on. This will reduce the stress on the fish and they won't go from a dark tank to a bright tank instantly.

At night turn the room light on and then turn the tank light off. Wait at least 30 minutes (or more) before turning the room light out. This allows the fish to settle down for the night instead of going from a brightly lit tank to complete darkness instantly.

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Have the light on a low intensity in the morning and evening and highest intensity during the middle of the day. This will replicate natural daytime light levels.

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Lights can be on for up to 16 hours per day but most people find 12 hours a day is heaps. Fish and plants need 8 hours of darkness to rest and recover.

 

[Holm_Tanks.]

Ok sounds good!
So how long would you recommend I turn the time up to?
I want it so the plants grow really well, yet the algae doesn't go crazy.?

 

[itiwhetu]

I always work on 10 hours light as a starting point. I don't like high intensity lights, I think it is best to try and replicate natural light.

 

[Colin_T]

Most aquarium plants like a bit of light and if you only have the light on for a couple of hours a day, they struggle. If the light doesn't have a high enough wattage they also struggle. Try having the tank lights on for 10-12 hours a day.

If you get lots of green algae then reduce the light by an hour a day and monitor the algae over the next 2 weeks.
If you don't get any green algae on the glass then increase the lighting period by an hour and monitor it.
If you get a small amount of algae then the lighting time is about right.

Some plants will close their leaves up when they have had sufficient light. Ambulia, Hygrophilas and a few others close their top set of leaves first, then the next set and so on down the stem. When you see this happening, wait an hour after the leaves have closed up against the stem and then turn lights off.

 

[Holm_Tanks.]

Ok sounds good, every morning and afternoon I will make the transition smoother for the fish. I'll turn the lights on for 10 hours and monitor for algae growth and react accordingly. Does this sound appropriate? And thank you so much!

 

[Fishiemang]

2 things...

This is why I have gotten in to the Fluval Aquasky lights. You're able to simulate sunrise/sunset with these lights. You can also easily adjust lighting schedule, and.add gradual intensity. Not sure if your model is as flexible...maybe it is. I have no experience with the brand you mentioned.

Second...

I have my aquarium lights on 16 hours a day. Sometimes more. The ones on timers are set to a 16 hour schedule, including sunrise/sunset. I set them to come.on when the actual sun starts shedding light, then full intensity during daytime hours, then to start fading intensity when the natural light starts fading all the way to going dark at the same time it goes dark. I do this for a summer schedule, since these guys are tropical, and where I am....ain't tropical...haha. They love it. Plants thrive.

 

[Holm_Tanks.]

The dimming function is great and the light has been growing my plants very well (not a single plant has died or done badly) its been two months. But I recently got the monte carlo and I want it to carpet so I feel I need a longer light period. I have it on a timer but the light does not offer gradual intensity . So I guess ill just manually adjust the intensity, and try 10 hours for a while and see how it does.