Lights Or No Lights?

[chardonnay1000]

Hi, i cant seem to post on beginners questions so have to post on here, Can anyone tell me how long the lights should stay on in the tank. The fish seem happier with it off but I was recommeded 8 - 10 hours a day? Any suggestions would be appreciate, I have 3 timid neons and 3 red eyes. Thanks.

 

[scubadoo]

There are only really 2 reasons to have lights on your tank at all.

1 you have real plants which need light - then the usually accepted photoperiod is about 8-12 hrs depending on a series of factors, but you wont go too far wrong with about 10 hours for most set-ups

2 you want to see your fish move around.

If you dont have real plants, then you only need the lights on when you want to see your fish.
As you say most fish would probably prefer a tank without artificial lights since most of them would tend to inhabit shady waters in the wild.

 

[chardonnay1000]

There are only really 2 reasons to have lights on your tank at all.

1 you have real plants which need light - then the usually accepted photoperiod is about 8-12 hrs depending on a series of factors, but you wont go too far wrong with about 10 hours for most set-ups

2 you want to see your fish move around.

If you dont have real plants, then you only need the lights on when you want to see your fish.
As you say most fish would probably prefer a tank without artificial lights since most of them would tend to inhabit shady waters in the wild.

Thanks for your reply, so would you suggest taking out the plants and replacing them with artificial ones. I would rather have happy fish than plants?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup fish prefer the dark, as scubadoo said if you've got real plants then about 10hrs, adjust it a little more/less if you have algae or your plants are dying (although poor light is only one of several possible causes). If you've no real plants just have it on when you want to see the fish.

 

[PaulasPets]

I would keep the real plants. Maybe you just have too much light... How big is your tank and how much light do you have on there?

Paula

 

[chardonnay1000]

I would keep the real plants. Maybe you just have too much light... How big is your tank and how much light do you have on there?

Paula

Thanks, my tank is 65 litre and it does have 2 double lights at either side, I only have one side on as both sides seems too light. I dont know wot size bulbs they are though.

 

[MHunt]

You could put more plants in there to give your fish shaded areas away from the bright tank lighting.

 

[chardonnay1000]

You could put more plants in there to give your fish shaded areas away from the bright tank lighting.

Ok i might get some taller ones 2. Thanks

 

[scubadoo]

There are plenty of plants that will provide good shade.

I happen to like the thai onion plant which has long leaves that'll grow up and across the top of your tank - its easy to care for and doesn't involve masses of trimming / pruning etc.

 

[chardonnay1000]

There are plenty of plants that will provide good shade.

I happen to like the thai onion plant which has long leaves that'll grow up and across the top of your tank - its easy to care for and doesn't involve masses of trimming / pruning etc.

Thanks is it easy to get hold of? It sounds perfect for my tank.

 

[Torrean]

welcome to the forums. I use a timer set for around 10 hours with a one hour break in the middle, Don't ask what the break is for I can't remember. I started it around a year ago because of something I read or heard and stuck with it. Anyways I prefer just using a timer...It establishes a day light cycle for your fish and plants and keeps you from having to worry about cutting the tank lights on and off.

PS. Have you recieved your validation e-mail yet?

 

[PaulasPets]

The break is probably for algae control. The algae don't like the break in the light cycle, but the plants don't mind.

Paula

 

[Bignose]

There are only really 2 reasons to have lights on your tank at all.

1 you have real plants which need light - then the usually accepted photoperiod is about 8-12 hrs depending on a series of factors, but you wont go too far wrong with about 10 hours for most set-ups

2 you want to see your fish move around.

If you dont have real plants, then you only need the lights on when you want to see your fish.
As you say most fish would probably prefer a tank without artificial lights since most of them would tend to inhabit shady waters in the wild.

There is a much more important third reason, too. Fish need Vitamin D, just like people do, and the primary source for Vitamin D is self-generation which is stimulated by light. No light, and the fish don't generate Vitamin D. People get the disease called rickets if they don't get sunlight, i.e. a Vitamin D deficiency. I have no idea what fish-rickets are, but they cannot be good.

 

[chardonnay1000]

welcome to the forums. I use a timer set for around 10 hours with a one hour break in the middle, Don't ask what the break is for I can't remember. I started it around a year ago because of something I read or heard and stuck with it. Anyways I prefer just using a timer...It establishes a day light cycle for your fish and plants and keeps you from having to worry about cutting the tank lights on and off.

PS. Have you recieved your validation e-mail yet?

Great thanks, I did think about using a timer but would never have thought about a hour gap. I think il def get me a timer. Yeh i got a validation email. Cheers.

 

[ox5477]

There are only really 2 reasons to have lights on your tank at all.

1 you have real plants which need light - then the usually accepted photoperiod is about 8-12 hrs depending on a series of factors, but you wont go too far wrong with about 10 hours for most set-ups

2 you want to see your fish move around.

If you dont have real plants, then you only need the lights on when you want to see your fish.
As you say most fish would probably prefer a tank without artificial lights since most of them would tend to inhabit shady waters in the wild.

There is a much more important third reason, too. Fish need Vitamin D, just like people do, and the primary source for Vitamin D is self-generation which is stimulated by light. No light, and the fish don't generate Vitamin D. People get the disease called rickets if they don't get sunlight, i.e. a Vitamin D deficiency. I have no idea what fish-rickets are, but they cannot be good.

Thank you so much bignose!!! I was reading this topic and getting quite aggitated that no one mentioned the vitamin D aspect of the light. It is crucial so that your fish stay healthy that they get everything that they need. Yes, you would save electricity and seemingly make them happier in the short term, but as Bignose said, I would hate to see what fish rickets looks like