Lights on and off.

[ChaosLogan]

I recently found this forum and asked a few questions, got answers and implemented some changes to my aquarium. I now have more plants in the tank and they are all packed really close together. I must admit that I still need more plants for the right quarter of my tank, but the left most 3 quarters are fully stocked with plants ( I am still using plastic ones until I learn more about the live ones)

I also learned that I needed to do a normal day light cycle with the light for the tank, which I had suspected but hadn't done, just used the natural light that comes into my room during the day ( don't worry the tank is not in direct sunlight ). So now I am doing a 10 - 12 hour day cycle with the light (6:30 - 6:30 about). Anyway, the fish seemed uncomfortable with the light on this morning and I was wondering that since this is a 'new' developement to their environment, that they just need to get used to it or is there some other problem. Please advise.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Turn the room lights on and leave them on for ten minutes before turning on the tank lights. That'll help them adjust. If you did it this way, then I can't really help you other than to tell you to try floating plants once you know how to take care of them.

 

[G_Sharky]

Can i add plants to help me cycle my tank? also would i need flourescent lighting if i want to add real plants in my tank? How can i add real plants in my tank properly without disrupting the condition of the water?

 

[guppymonkey]

Real plants would need about 2 watts of light per gallon of water in the tank. Its difficult to attain that kind of lighting without either multiple flourescent bulbs or special compact lighting (which is expensive).

I think you should get a test kit and test the water for ammonia and nitrite. Those two chemicals are deadly and when they are in the water (caused by decaying food and waste) the fish tend to either die or hide. After the tank cycles the fish usually are more active and come out from hiding. If the tank is already cycled then it could be that they aren't used to their new environment. Sometimes it can take a couple weeks for them to get used to their new homes. Or they could be scared of a larger fish. My fish hide until I removed an aggressive gold gourami from the tank and switched it with a nonaggressive dwarf gourami. Now the fish are a little less timid and come out.