Lights?

[Rachel.K]

I was wondering how long you have to leave the lights on in the tank, I've heard from some sources not to leave them on for too long as they just promote the growth of algae? Is this true?

Thanks

 

[lizard]

Welcome!

How long you leave the lights on depends on whether or not you have live plants. Do you have live plants?

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[Rachel.K]

Yes I have a few live plants in the tank.

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

i keep mine on between 8 and 10 hours a day. i wouldnt leave them on for any longer than that as i do believe they could promote algae growth

 

[yhbae]

This also depends on the type of lights. Which bulb and how much light (in w) do you have?

 

[Joeyt66]

What if you dont have live plants? I keep my light on for 14 hours a day is this too much? its on a timer (65 gallon 40watt florecent bulb)i keep it on for this amount because it is kinda the main attraction in my basement, its built in the wall and lookks kinda dull if the lights are not on. Am i leaving it on to long? what is the max it should be on?

 

[yhbae]

What if you dont have live plants? I keep my light on for 14 hours a day is this too much? its on a timer (65 gallon 40watt florecent bulb)i keep it on for this amount because it is kinda the main attraction in my basement, its built in the wall and lookks kinda dull if the lights are not on. Am i leaving it on to long? what is the max it should be on?

If you don't see any problematic (i.e. unwanted) algae, why not leave them on as long as you want? I used to have one of my tank lights on for 14 hours a day, and fishes certainly didn't have any problem with that.