I have a lovely new hex tank and I'd like to keep angelfish and light it from the bottom. I saw this once at someone's house a long time ago. Has anyone ever done this? Is it stressful for the fish?
bottom-lit aquarium?
- Thread starter kieshaloquiesha
- Start date
Fish orient themselves based on the direction of the light. If the ambient lighting in the room is persistently weaker than the lighting in the tank, the fish will begin to orient themselves towards the light--ie, flip upside down. Not really the best for the fish.
Rather than putting the light on the bottom, you could use some up-lights on the outside of the tank to highlight it, with regular lighting within the tank for the fish.
Rather than putting the light on the bottom, you could use some up-lights on the outside of the tank to highlight it, with regular lighting within the tank for the fish.
i think if the main light is from the top and the bottom lit is only as accent it'd be ok. yes they orient to light but they orient to the brightest source of light.
OrionGirl said:
I disagree with this statement. I had an old 5 gallon hex aquarium (the one that actually got me into this hobby 20yrs ago!) with a light bubble at the bottom as the sole lighting. At night with all ambient lighting off, the fish still swam right side up and were unaffected. Fish will orient themselves to outside light (like from window) and will tilt to this incoming light, so in that aspect you are right.
Phototaxis are not the only influence on orientation for fishes, and the degree with which a fish depends on the predominant light source for orientation is species dependent.
However, lighting from below is likely to add undue stress to your fish. They may eventually adapt to it, they may not. There are no absolutes. I personally would not implement it.
However, lighting from below is likely to add undue stress to your fish. They may eventually adapt to it, they may not. There are no absolutes. I personally would not implement it.