Office Tank Lighting For Weekend - Filter/light On Same Circuit

[eduller]

I'm the proud owner of a new Fluval View which I quite like. The filter pump is totally silent which is great for the office.
 
However, the filter and lighting are on the same circuit. I can turn the light on and off with a switch, but they share one plug. There is also a "night mode" which is a little blue LED. I plan on putting a single betta and a nerite snail in this tank. What should I do about the weekend? I can't leave the light on nor put it on a timer - should I leave night mode on?
 
In addition, would this prohibit me from getting live plants? 48 hours a week of no light? There's no natural light that reaches my cube during the weekend. I was going to put a moss ball and add a couple other low maintenance plants.

 

[Malex530]

Try crptocorynes, java fern and anubias. They can go 48 hourse with out light. Just try to make them have a longer daytime if its possible. If not no worries! Hope this helps! By the way this will also help against algae!

 

[eduller]

Thank you! Do you have any experience with the brown variety of cryptocorynes? Do you think it would hold up in this situation? 

 

[majerah1]

The brown crypts should do well in that lighting situation as should all the other plants listed. I personally would put the night light on when leaving. Do you plan to put a heater in there?

 

[eduller]

I have a heater in and a thermometer. I just got the Fluval 25 watt because I knew from reviews that it would fit well in the filter compartment. It keeps the water at 78 degrees.