Lighting

[reflectdesign]

I have a single light for my smallish tank however for the past 8 months its not been turned off ever (just cleaned and changed?)

Should I turn it off at night?

It would then mean it would be from 7am - 10pm (about 14 hours) as opposed to non stop 24?

Thanks

 

[newfishaddict]

I have a single light for my smallish tank however for the past 8 months its not been turned off ever (just cleaned and changed?)

Should I turn it off at night?

It would then mean it would be from 7am - 10pm (about 14 hours) as opposed to non stop 24?

Thanks

Yes turn it off at night. I know that fish behave much different in the dark and some species of fish rest only when it is dark.

Have you had problems with algae? Do you have live plants?

 

[reflectdesign]

Yes all plants are living and none have died only one has been chewed (hehe!)

There was an algae problem however when I began to plump up the tank the other plants obviously took the stuff the algae needed and upto now (about 5 mnths) there has been no algae.

I will begin to turn the light of at night time then.

 

[RYO]

Get a timer,cheap enough. dont have to remeber to switch off lights then

 

[jimbooo]

yeah if your in the UK pop into a tesco extra store.

timer = £1.99

fish like all animals need to sleep.

 

[xautomaticflowersx]

Absolutely agree with everything that's been said. Timers are so cheap that there's no excuse not to use one really
Mine comes on for five hours, off for two, on for five and then off for the night.
All plants and animals need a photoperiod, so it's unfair to keep the lights on all the time... it'll start to stress the fish out.

 

[reflectdesign]

Thanks everyone.

I will turn them off this evneing but then get a timer and use that in the 5 hour pattern as above.

Thanks!