Lights Out!

[Ness]

Hiya
How long do you leave your tank lights on for? I'm worried my tank is lit for too long, approx 15 hours 8) . My fish kind of look relieved when I turn the lights off!
Any help gratefully received
Ness x

 

[djloach]

Hiya
How long do you leave your tank lights on for? I'm worried my tank is lit for too long, approx 15 hours 8) . My fish kind of look relieved when I turn the lights off!
Any help gratefully received
Ness x

Many people suggest no more than 8-10 hours because any more might lead to algae problems. I have mine on for between 12-13 hours and that is the max I would suggest anyone have them on. My lights aren't high intensity lights so that is why I keep them on that long. But think about what is natural for the fish. Since most fish we keep are tropical the amount of daylight they would naturally live in would be around 12 hours. That seems like a reasonable maximum amount of time. But if you are getting algae growth, decrease the time the lights are on.

 

[Len90]

I very rarely leave my tank light on because it has a light from my house over it. The room it is in, is lit for a very good portion of the day. However, I may start to keep my light on longer.

 

[Chri$]

If you have a tank with real plants i would suggest: 10-12 hours
If you have a tank without real plants: 8-10 hours
I leave my lights on for 12 hours a day

 

[mark.w.jones]

Mine are on for 5 hours, off for 2, then on for 5 again when I get back from work.

 

[Ness]

Thanks for all your replies. I have got a planted tank. I didn't know that you could turn your tank lights on and off willy nilly, Jonesyuk. That maybe a good thing for me to do to cut my tanks lit hours down.
Thanks again
Ness x

 

[jayjay]

my tank light times vary 80g has 12hrs along with my 15g, 3.5g (planted) has it on for even longer sometimes up to 16hrs. other tanks i have don't recieve any light from tank lights.

 

[Nina]

Invest in a timer. Wonderful things as you don't have to a) remember to turn them on or off and B) worry about them being turned on or off when you are out.

All our tanks come on at 8am and go off at 12pm and then back on at 2pm and off again at 10pm.

 

[jayjay]

mine downstairs tanks are on timers but it my room they are not as they may wake me up lol.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I usually leave my tank lights on for 10hrs- my plants are all very hardy and thrive regardless of the tanks lighting arrangements a lot of the time. Plants aside, lighting is really just for the look of the tank, there are very few fish that require to be in strongly lit tanks- most fish are fine without lights though, some fish really thrive in low lit tanks as well .