How long should the aquarium lights be on ?

Coler

AC Members
Jan 30, 2007
7,291
3
62
47
Ok so its summer. My tank doesn't get direct sunlight but its in a well lit room. There are no live plants.

Sunrise is about 05:30, sunset is around 21:30

Leaving lights on for too long can be stressful right ? fish need sleep ?

How long should I be lighting the tank for ?
 
8-10 hours, i have mine on for 12 hours but thats because i have plants and its not a very strong light, plants and fish are doing great with minimal algae growth.
 
ok no live plants

does that mean 8 - 10 hours of light (cos they get daylight) or 8 - 10 hours of the set-up lights on ?

It's the basic set-up that comes with a Juwel 180 litre Vision
 
If you don't have live plants, and the tank is in a room that gets daylight, then the fish have a normal enough day/night cycle happening with the natural light. You only need the tank light on for you, when you're home to watch them. If you've got the light on a timer capable of multiple settings, you can just have the light on in the mornings before you leave, and in the evening after you get home. Of course, you can do the same thing without a timer, but that involves actually touching the switch...and that's, like, WORK or something. I don't believe in that.
 
If you don't have live plants, and the tank is in a room that gets daylight, then the fish have a normal enough day/night cycle happening with the natural light. You only need the tank light on for you, when you're home to watch them. If you've got the light on a timer capable of multiple settings, you can just have the light on in the mornings before you leave, and in the evening after you get home. Of course, you can do the same thing without a timer, but that involves actually touching the switch...and that's, like, WORK or something. I don't believe in that.

HAHAHAAA!!
 
If you don't have live plants, and the tank is in a room that gets daylight, then the fish have a normal enough day/night cycle happening with the natural light. You only need the tank light on for you, when you're home to watch them. If you've got the light on a timer capable of multiple settings, you can just have the light on in the mornings before you leave, and in the evening after you get home. Of course, you can do the same thing without a timer, but that involves actually touching the switch...and that's, like, WORK or something. I don't believe in that.

i beg to differ. my front room is where my 75g is (which gets plenty of indirect sunlight).. If i leave the lights off all day long, and dont bother turning them on, then the fish stay inactive and their colors stay dull. the only time they 'wake up' and color up is if the tank light is on.
 
AquariaCentral.com