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question regarding aquarium lighting - lights on at night?

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by Leslie, Aug 6, 2008.

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  1. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    do you leave your fish tank light on at night?I was woundering if you were suppost to or what.
     
    Leslie, Aug 6, 2008
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: do you leave your fish tank light on at night?

    Since you have plants you need to keep your lights on about 12 hours a day. Don't leave them on all the time because the fish need to sleep too. There was a study I saw a while ago that proved fish that aren't allowed to sleep (due to light) get sick easily and don't act normal.

    I use timers on all my tanks. They come on at 7AM and go off at 10PM. At 10PM my moonlights come on to simulate the light from the moon.
     
    Anthony, Aug 6, 2008
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  3. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: do you leave your fish tank light on at night?

    ok. i didnt know. i cut them off when it gets dark outside. and the room they are in are pretty bright.
     
    Leslie, Aug 6, 2008
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  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: do you leave your fish tank light on at night?

    Yep. The lights are for you, not the fish but you do need the light for the plants.
     
    Anthony, Aug 6, 2008
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  5. noshow discus

    noshow discus New Member

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    Re: do you leave your fish tank light on at night?

    actually 8 to 10 hours of light on most plants i have 2 stip lights on my with 2 timmers one comes on at 8am the sceond comes on at 11ish .
    then at 4 the first cuts off then around 6 the second on one tank the others come on and off at different times but i never leave the lights on that is just asking for GREEN water.
    Now when i have breeders sitting on eggs or fry i always leave a night light on for them
     
    noshow discus, Aug 6, 2008
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  6. eeyipes

    eeyipes New Member

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    Re: do you leave your fish tank light on at night?

    If you like to have some light in the tank at night but don't want to disturb them, try adding a lunar light to your tank - basically a little fishy nightlight.
     
    eeyipes, Aug 9, 2008
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  7. BobV

    BobV Member

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    Re: do you leave your fish tank light on at night?

    all my tanks are on timers
     
    BobV, Aug 9, 2008
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  8. trajik ink

    trajik ink New Member

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    Re: do you leave your fish tank light on at night?

    yeah mine are on timers too, actinics go on at 7am, then my whites go on an hr after. then my whites go off at 8 pm and the actinics go off an hr after. then i have the moon lights on all night.
     
    trajik ink, Aug 9, 2008
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  9. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: do you leave your fish tank light on at night?

    planted 10-12 hours during the day (I personally go with 10am to 10pm)
    not planted, doesn't really matter if their are lights...but if you are going with them I would say 8-10 hours since you don't want excess algae build up or diatoms. Adjust accordingly, If your getting excessive algae then back them off by a hour until you get a "feel" for the perfect amount of lighting.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Aug 31, 2008
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  10. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Keep those lights OUT at night

    Keep those lights OUT at night

    I went to show my wife a few nights ago the new Rams after returning from an install/promo for my work in Pearisburg. I got home at 3:30am and switched on the lights to show her....

    EVERY Cardinal Tetra was washed out in color looking like they were dead. The Discus were resting their bellies on the sand at the bottom. NONE of the Cichlids (Rams, Angels and Discus) had red eyes! They were all washed out white!

    Well needless to say I freaked but part of me also figured I disturbed them from sleep. I know this has been mentioned on here to a degree before but I figured I would share again.
     
    LemonDiscus, Feb 13, 2009
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  11. MIKEJ0226

    MIKEJ0226 New Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    Thanks for the info. I turn all my lights off every night, it's like a small ritual having 14 tanks.
     
    MIKEJ0226, Feb 13, 2009
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  12. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    I always use timers and never turn on the lights after they switch off.
     
    Anthony, Feb 13, 2009
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  13. stevenrox

    stevenrox New Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    lol yea that freaked me out to because my carinals were like that and angels lying flat and hiding swiming on their sides in circles i think its to hide from predetors at night in the wild
     
    stevenrox, Feb 13, 2009
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  14. fordfreak67

    fordfreak67 New Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    I useally run mine 12 hours on 12 off does that seem like a good cycle
     
    fordfreak67, Feb 13, 2009
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  15. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    12 hours is normally fine.
     
    Anthony, Feb 13, 2009
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  16. stevenrox

    stevenrox New Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    yea its good as long as its like when it gets a little dark but if you want to veiw them at night you can use moon lights
     
    stevenrox, Feb 13, 2009
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  17. stevenrox

    stevenrox New Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    beat me to it lol
     
    stevenrox, Feb 13, 2009
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  18. Guidoman888

    Guidoman888 New Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    I use timers for my 2 tanks,, They stay on 12,5 hours ( 9 am till 9.30 pm) I turned the lights on by accident once on the 30 gal and my tetras were all colourless to. I schocked to death,, and next morning I took a look inmidiatly and saw them swimming happy again :)
     
    Guidoman888, Feb 14, 2009
    #18
  19. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    Yeah, I of course use timers too.... I just turned them on in the middle of the night as I did not get home til late and wanted to show the wife the new fish..... it was creepy.

    Yes the discus were on their sides too!
     
    LemonDiscus, Feb 14, 2009
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  20. stevenrox

    stevenrox New Member

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    Re: Keep those lights OUT at night

    yea and somfe of my glolights were floating around with their heads straight down and tails up i thought there was something wrong with my water
     
    stevenrox, Feb 14, 2009
    #20
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