Lights Out!

[Watersprite]

Hi all,
Would like people's opinions on lighting times for their aquariums. At present mine is on timer 12hours on, 12 hours off. This does mean that the times when I would most like to be able to see my fish, morning and evening, can't both be covered. Is it okay to have to have, for example, 6hours in morning, then off for 4 hours, back on for 6 hours and off for 8 hours at night.
Would appreciate comments, as new, and do not want to stress the fish out.

 

[kewskills]

fish dont care about your lights, lighting is for your benefit, however if you have plants then lighting is important. more details on your tank will help ppl answer timings for your lights

 

[doresy]

Hi, I guess it's best to try and imitate nature's cycle.

Personally, my way of thinking is that it is two way traffic. I keep my fish happy and they keep me happy. In other words, I get up early to go to work so the lights are on from 5.30 am till around 10am (then ambient light takes over) I arrive home around 5pm so the lights come on at 4.30 till I go to bed around 11.

Weekend I may turn them on in the afternoon if I want to show them off

Works for us

 

[dominicbeha]

i pop mine on for half an hr on the morning before i go to work- basicly to check they are alive then they are on from 5pm till bedtime!!

 

[Watersprite]

fish dont care about your lights, lighting is for your benefit, however if you have plants then lighting is important. more details on your tank will help ppl answer timings for your lights

Hi, yes it is a planted 125litre community tank, which has been set up for about 6weeks, plants put in after about one week and fish added 1 week ago after doing fishless cycle. Plants are all growing well at present.


Thanks for your replies

 

[rdd1952]

My planted tanks are on timers and are on from 5:30 to 10:30 in the morning and from 4 to 10 in the evening so that they are on when we are at home. As mentioned, most fish would probably prefer that the lights weren't on at all.

 

[J uice R anch]

I have my timer set to turn on about a half hour before I wake up, and it turns off about a half hour after I go to bed. That way, I never see it turned off.

 

[rdd1952]

I have my timer set to turn on about a half hour before I wake up, and it turns off about a half hour after I go to bed. That way, I never see it turned off.

Keep a very close eye on your tank as I would assume that is at least 14 hours. That is really too long and you could start to see major algae build ups soon.