Lights On Or Off When Taking A Trip?

[Snick]

Im going away for 5 days, i already bought the vacation food and prepared the filters and everything... (changed them, cleaned them, ext...) but should i leave the lights on or off? The 30 and 10 gallon will not recieve ANY light, as the room has no windows. The 10 gal has real plants, so i think turning of the lights is not good... the 30 gal is only rock. I cant buy a timer, unfortunately, so, what should i do?

 

[smithrc]

get a timer

 

[guppymonkey]

Leave the light off. Its not going to hurt your plants that much to leave them without light for a week. Its much better than the algae build up that would be caused by leaving the light on. Its not like the fish need the light anyways, they can move around without bumping into things with help from their lateral lines.

 

[SkydiveSonic]

5 or 10 bucks for a timer also means you've got consistant light times, even when you get back.

 

[Snick]

Ok, i CANT get a timer... emm i left the lights off once, and the plants where basically DEAD. i did leave for more days, but im afraid I will have to pay for a new batch of plants... i cant get a timer becuase my time is really tight, im leaving very soon and im still very busy.

 

[anvil63]

Ok follow fishkiller's advice for now, but when you get back get a timer. For the small price they are definitely worth it.

Carl