Lights

[tetraqueen]

when my fish tank lights come on my fish are either hidding or swimming and hitting into objects.
They are fine lights out.
The lights are not on for long periods of time ? why they acting strange like this??

 

[JoanneH]

when my fish tank lights come on my fish are either hidding or swimming and hitting into objects.
They are fine lights out.
The lights are not on for long periods of time ? why they acting strange like this??

I'm not an expert but apparentaly lights coming on can be stressful for the fish, so the more they go on and off the more stressful it can be for them - you mention that the lights aren't on for long periods of time so perhaps you are switching them on and off frequently? I have mine set on a timer for 10 hours a day, which seems to work fine for my tank set up.

 

[scorphonic]

Is there a certain time that you should switch on and off the lights? What time should they go on in the morning and when should they be turned off? thanks!

 

[MadMan-JaMeS]

Mine are on a timer plug


comes on at 9:30am and off at 10:30pm !

my fish seem fine !

 

[JoanneH]

Is there a certain time that you should switch on and off the lights? What time should they go on in the morning and when should they be turned off? thanks!

I have a planted tank and was advised that around 10 hours would be about right to stop algae build up and provide enough light for my plants to thrive. When you turn them on is personal preferance, it's just that I prefer to have mine on in the evening when I'm around to look at the fish. Try a digital timer, they cost around a tenner from B&Q or somewhere similar - that way the lights are going on and off at the same time every day and fish find that less stressful apparentaly.

 

[tetraqueen]

They are on a timer and only come on late afternoon for a couple of hours. It has been off whilst we were decorating I have no plants as Plec eats them all. I have since turned them of totally.

 

[AndreaC]

Hi. My goldies would do this each time lights were turned, esp my 9-10" comet, he would really freak out big time. I got round it by taking the lid of, then turn the lights on slowly placing lid back on. The gradual light comming over tank then doesnt spook them.

My tropicals dont react at all to the light going on but then theres isnt as bright. I think thats because there is driftwood in there and its very heavly planted, where as the goldie tank only has 1 plant as they eat them lol.

 

[vinylman]

If you have more than one tube, can you switch them on and off separately?. Just one at first, then half an hour later or so switch on the second. Don't forget that fish can't blink, so going from semi-darkness into full lighting will be stressful.