View Full Version : On the topic of lighting
Hi, when constructing planted tanks, people tend to aquire ample lighting for whatever plants they may have, but has anyone thought about how the fish may cope with being bomarded with that much light? Is it natural at all for them to be in such a high-light environment? I like planted tanks, but Im not sure how much the fish enjoy living that close to a sun. What do you think?
BreezeRuehls
04-11-2009, 6:00 AM
I have always wondered that...
nickmcmechan
04-11-2009, 6:04 AM
a well panted tank will create areas of shade and refuge, that appear to make the fish feel more comfortable
i have festivums,the more the plants grow the more they come out
i kept them for a month in a bare bottom tank with no light and they hid 24/7 looking quite stressed
IME high light does not affect them
7itanium
04-11-2009, 6:08 AM
anything in the 2-3 wpg range is fine for fish-- most tropical fish live in areas where the sun beats on the water pretty hard (hence the "tropical" temperature)
also as it was said.. plants provide shade to an extent
there are certain types of fish that dont do well in high light... but coincidentally those are usually the same types of fish that dont do well with plants lol
KarlTh
04-11-2009, 6:26 AM
Think about it - if the plants need that much light, then that must be how much they get in the wild. If the plants get that much light in the wild, the fish must as well.
Of course, some species do come from dark plantless waters. More thought needs to be given to that perhaps. You'd soon know; they'd hide away in the shaded areas.
Think about it - if the plants need that much light, then that must be how much they get in the wild. If the plants get that much light in the wild, the fish must as well.
Of course, some species do come from dark plantless waters. More thought needs to be given to that perhaps. You'd soon know; they'd hide away in the shaded areas.
Yea but the fish kept in tanks may not be restricted to such shallow water(as those plants probably are) in the wild.
Also Im sure theres a difference between getting a certain amount of sunlight in the wild and having huge flourescent ones that close above the water.
Also many tanks may provide shade..but many fish that have an active lifestyle would not be comfortable hiding when the lights go on.
7itanium
04-11-2009, 8:16 AM
Yea but the fish kept in tanks may not be restricted to such shallow water(as those plants probably are) in the wild.
Also Im sure theres a difference between getting a certain amount of sunlight in the wild and having huge flourescent ones that close above the water.
Also many tanks may provide shade..but many fish that have an active lifestyle would not be comfortable hiding when the lights go on.
acctually no there isnt.. thats the point--- the flourescent bulbs we use are designed to mimick the amount, and type of light that plants get in the wild
if we have the appropriate amount of light for the plants we grow-- it should be almost exactly the same as the way it would be in the wild-- and most tropical fish that we keep in tanks are small.. meaning that they are the type of fish that stay in shallow water amongst the plants
if it bothered the fish, they would hide-- and my fish acctually come out MORE when the lights are one.. meaning it certainly isnt bothering them
acctually no there isnt.. thats the point--- the flourescent bulbs we use are designed to mimick the amount, and type of light that plants get in the wild
True, but the sun isnt always directly overhead as it is in a fishtank. If you look up...well thats a pretty intense light source.
Mgamer20o0
04-11-2009, 5:41 PM
in the tropics where a lot of these plants come from yes it is. the sun vs a little florescent bulb doesnt come close.
BreezeRuehls
04-11-2009, 5:43 PM
Well, I have had a sun burn, never had a fluorescent bulb burn, not yet at least
jpappy789
04-11-2009, 6:21 PM
Well, I have had a sun burn, never had a fluorescent bulb burn, not yet at least
Fluorescents don't even come close to sunlight in terms of UV
BreezeRuehls
04-11-2009, 6:22 PM
:)
Look up at the sky, are you staring directly at the sun? well you could be, if you're under it at the time. In a tank, youre always under it! see what I mean?
Fluorescents don't even come close to sunlight in terms of UV
Tanning salons use flourescent tubes that are in the infrared spectrum.
Charles
jpappy789
04-11-2009, 6:53 PM
Tanning salons use flourescent tubes that are in the infrared spectrum.
Charles
Not the same as aquarium or residential lighting.
Mgamer20o0
04-11-2009, 7:17 PM
Look up at the sky, are you staring directly at the sun? well you could be, if you're under it at the time. In a tank, youre always under it! see what I mean?
are you standing where the plant came from? even in the morth north or south parts of the world in their respective winters the sun is going to putting out more light then you could ever get over tank
are you standing where the plant came from? even in the morth north or south parts of the world in their respective winters the sun is going to putting out more light then you could ever get over tank
Im talking about the position of the sun, its not always directly overhead.
Mgamer20o0
04-11-2009, 7:53 PM
what does the position of the sun have to do with anything? in the tropics its over head more then the north or south.
think of all the light the reef people put over their tanks just to grow some of this coral in 10-24 inch of water. yet found how many feet under water?
what does the position of the sun have to do with anything? in the tropics its over head more then the north or south.
think of all the light the reef people put over their tanks just to grow some of this coral in 10-24 inch of water. yet found how many feet under water?
when they look up, theyre not always looking directly at the sun. Have you looked straight at your lights recently?
rocker92
04-11-2009, 8:06 PM
yep, they're bright, just like the sun! :)
maybe ill go draw a picture..
jpappy789
04-11-2009, 8:11 PM
You're still comparing fluorescent lights to the sun...
It's a fairly legitimate question but I do have to say, if there was a problem with aquarium lighting, I think people would know by now...
Reefscape
04-11-2009, 8:14 PM
True, but the sun isnt always directly overhead as it is in a fishtank. If you look up...well thats a pretty intense light source.
Genius ;)
Mgamer20o0
04-11-2009, 8:21 PM
when they look up, theyre not always looking directly at the sun. Have you looked straight at your lights recently?
how many hours a day do you spend looking directly at the sun?
phanmc
04-11-2009, 10:55 PM
The reason people get sunburn is because of UV radiation, the typical lighting we use do not emit UV energy at all. There are lights which emit UV rays, the ones which emit UVA radiation are used in sterilizers which kills everything it shines on.
So aside from freaking out fishes until they get used to it, aquarium lighting is quite harmless. The fishes will get used to it, I have several fishes that are approaching a decade old under quite intense lighting.
crimsonmoon
04-11-2009, 11:37 PM
how many hours a day do you spend looking directly at the sun?
lol
i have to agree with everybody else on this one.
the point about reefs being deep in the water is a good one too..
i think your fish are safe..well at least from the fluorescents. ;)
7itanium
04-12-2009, 5:26 AM
maybe ill go draw a picture..
you need to understand that while the sun may not always be in the same position... it is still always the same distance from earth-- therefore the intensity doesnt change when it is bright
the sunlight may be hitting the fish on the side of its head in the wild... and always above it in my aquarium- but irreguardless the only effect that is going to be different is the position of my fish's tan-lines lol
sunlight, and fishtank light are not 100% Identical... but they are alike enough that fish cant tell the difference, and plants certainly dont mind
Think about it... there are parts of the ocean that are so crystal clear.. and if you dive down MANY feet underwater-- it is STILL bright enough to grow high-light corals. that means it is at about the concentration of 4-5 WPG MINIMUM (not watts because its the sun.. but in comparison that is what is needed to grow such corals).
7itanium
04-13-2009, 5:39 AM
aww comon! This was an entertaining thread... and now.. its DEAD! ahhhh
RIP
bazil323
04-13-2009, 10:52 AM
Lol, how many fish do you see looking straight up at the light? It's fairly uncommon, even for my surface feeders. They look up just long enough to feed and then go about their day. They don't care what position the light is on the rest of the time.
I have a section in my tank with floating plants that blocks out quite a bit of light. It covers about 1/4 of the tank currently (75g tank). Plus there are spots where my taller stems block out light and also where the light just doesn't shine because it only covers part of the tank (low-medium light). Ergo, there are plenty of swimming spots that have little to no light in the tank, but my fish still prefer to swim where the light is directly shining. If it really mattered to them, I'd think they would stay in the less intensely lighted parts of the tank.