How long lights on fish tank

But how much light is ideal? How long should you leave lights on? This article highlights the ins and outs of lighting an aquarium. So, how long to leave aquarium lights on a planted tank? Experts recommend at least 8 hours of light. A newly planted aquarium requires not more than 6 hours to avoid algae growth. Offering more than 8 hours of light is not only a recipe of algae but is also detrimental to the fish.

Light facilitates photosynthesis which I return gives out oxygen which is beneficial to the fish. Want to learn more about lighting an aquarium? Well, read on for much-needed insight. As stated you should leave the lights on for eight hours daily. During this period the plant performs photosynthesis helping it convert water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into starch.

When you switch off the lights at night, the plants will burn the stored starch enabling them to grow. Not only will this lead to algae growth, but it will kill the plants and fish. You see, fish require at least 8 hours of light, the same case applies to the plants.

On the other hand, 24 hours of light will interfere with the fish sleeping patterns causing them to become stressed. Eventually, the immune system of the fish will weaken and ultimate death will not be an option. Buy a light with a timer to achieve the recommended hours. For a short trip during the day, you can leave the lights off.

However, for long trips, we recommended putting a light on a timer. And as mentioned above you have to provide the plants at least eight hours of light.

To mitigate this headache, just purchase lights with timers. While some plants require high lighting, you should consider the fish in the aquarium. This is because fish does not thrive in too bright light. That said, different plants require different lighting.

An easy plant will require low lighting, the medium plant goes with medium lighting, while a difficult plant thrives in high lighting. Besides tropical plant species and red-colored plants are known to require high lighting. So, before brightening up the tank, consider the plant and fish species. And is equally useful when you have visitors over at night. That said, there are a few things to consider before setting up your light schedule.

Well, if you are going to enjoy the aesthetics of your fish in the aquarium, you will definitely need light. Not only that, your fish need the light to feed and engage in other fishy activities, but also a few hours of darkness to relax and unwind.

Having said that, one important thing to keep in mind is different freshwater fish will have varying light needs. Top and mid-tank dwelling fish will benefit from light better than bottom dwellers, such as plecos, catfish, and loaches, which are accustomed to living at the base of water bodies where light is scarce. Fishys native to the tropics will perhaps also enjoy more light than those from subtropical regions where the sun does not penetrate the surface of the water as much.

Most common tropical fish come from rivers, streams and clear lakes in warm regions and are used to bright sunlight and warming rays in the natural hours cycle. Therefore, to best recreate these conditions in your aquarium, provide 12 hours of light a day, preferably, with bright LEDs that penetrate the water surface or make use of sunlight when you have a well-lit aquarium room.

However, some species of tropical freshwater fish like tetras may prefer low light. In which case, you leave enough hiding spaces in your tank for these fish to get away.

To create the optimal environment for cold water species, try to match your aquarium lighting to seasonal daylight hours akin to those in the temperate region where most cold water species come from. As we saw above, top and mid-level dwelling fish are used to and prefer more and brighter light exposure than bottom-dwelling fish. A light period anywhere from 10 to 12 hours a day should be enough, but ensure the light is not obstructed and adequately penetrates the water surface.

Therefore, when keeping most of these fish, you do not want too many floating plants forming a canopy at the surface of your tank. Bottom-dwelling fish, unlike their top and mid-level cousins, do not need as many light hours.

Anywhere from 8 hours daily should be sufficient. A canopy of floating plants at the water surface is also recommended, especially if you have bright light or a wide-shallow tank.

You will also note that most bottom-dwelling species prefer to feed at night but spend most of the day hiding. So, add a lot of hiding spaces in your tank, and preferably, allow more light for your bottom-dwellers at night. Yes, most tropical aquarium fish need light during the day since they are used to the daily light cycle with 12 hours of light followed by a period of darkness. However, shy bottom-dwelling fish will prefer dimmer light, both at night and during the day. They are nocturnal.

Breeding females, sick or stressed fish also seem to like a lesser light during the day, perhaps to get the much-needed rest. One way to ensure all your fish enjoy their preferred light levels during the day is adding hiding places in the tank using plants, driftwood, and other decorations.

Tropical aquarium fish do not need sunlight per se. However, placing your fish tank in an area with daylight exposure will help save on your lighting bill during the day. Moreover, if you have plants in your aquarium, they will benefit from sunlight, which is more natural than any aquarium light fixture.

If you decide to allow sunlight in your fish tank during the day, keep in mind the duration should not be too long more than 10 hours because it will promote algae growth. While light in fish tanks is partly for your viewing pleasure, plants depend on diurnal light patterns a lot, and good quality light is paramount.

See how to choose planted aquarium lights. On-off timers are highly recommended for all aquarium owners. Remember that aquarium lights may not only produce light—but many produce heat, and sometimes a lot of it. Lighting types that produce heat include incandescent, VHO-fluorescent, and metal halide. In smaller aquariums, these types can cause a significant rise in water temperature, sometimes enough to kill your fish and plants. If you use one of these types of lights, make sure to monitor the water temperature constantly, and avoid leaving the lights on overnight.

Standard fluorescent lights produce cooler light and are a better choice for most aquariums. You can leave them on for long periods without danger, and many tropical fish and plants thrive under fluorescent lighting. Light Emitting Diode LED lights come in a variety of colors and are inexpensive to run and they are cool in operation. True aquatic plants must be kept wet at all times or else they might die. Do not run them under running water, the chlorine can damage or even kill the plants.

If you see a whitish slime on plants, this slime layer is good bacteria. Fish eat it, it is entirely natural, and is part of what keeps an aquarium in homeostasis. Ensure that live plants are well anchored in the substrate. Do not plant in big thickets bunches or clumps.

The plants need room to grow and get full light on all the branches and leaves. Your fish should be able to swim cleanly around and through your aquarium plants. Many aquarium plants can increase their numbers naturally.

Vallisneria and similar plants send out runners under the substrate, which then sprout next to the parent plant. You can cut away the runners and replant them to start a new thicket. Aquarium Components: Lighting. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services , Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

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