Lighting Question

[lippy415]

The lady at the LFS told me that fish do not need lights, and to only turn them on when looking at the fish. She said they promote algae growth. I thought I read in some fish book that you are supposed to turn the lights on when you get up in the morning and turn them off when you go to bed at night. Which is correct?

Erin

 

[ThePBM]

It depends on your tank. Saltwater tanks need light, from when you wake up till night time. Freshwater tanks, however, unless they are planted, do not need light other than when you want to look at your fish. The LFS lady was tellng you the truth, if you asked her about a freshwater tank with no plants.

 

[lippy415]

Ohhh... Thanks for the response. Yes, it is a freshwater tank with only artificial plants. Maybe I was reading about saltwater tanks. So lately I've been turning the lights on and off quite a bit because when I am in the room with the fish tank, I wanna see the fish! So that does not annoy them to have the lights switched on and off?

 

[ThePBM]

It's probably one of those things that should be taken in moderation. Don't go strobing your lights but you can turn them off if you know you'll be gone for an hour or more.

 

[salty420]

i turn my lights on when i feed in the morning and they stay on till i feed them at night. i'd prolly have less algae if i didn't but i like having the lights on and the fish don't mind either. infact if the lights are off the fish hate it and their colors get all washed out...

 

[yourchoice]

Almost everybody leaves their light on for 10-12 hours a day.

 

[echoofformless]

I wouldn't worry about lights in plantless tank.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

i have my lights on 8 hours or so in no planted tanks. i find it best to get them on a timer figure out when you will be around and have them come on then. the less time they are on the less chance for algae.

 

[rwilliams254]

My fish are conditioned to "when the lights come on, it's feeding time". My lights come on about 5 PM and go off about 2 AM (or so.)