Do I Need A Timer On My Fishtanks?

[williamc]

I have a timer on my fishtank but its becoming a hassel because of no outlests or when Im home on the weekends then the lights are turned off
Just wondering if I really need one or can I just turn the lights off when I go to bed and when I get home turn them on?

 

[raptorrex]

I have a timer on my fishtank but its becoming a hassel because of no outlests or when Im home on the weekends then the lights are turned off
Just wondering if I really need one or can I just turn the lights off when I go to bed and when I get home turn them on?

I know for breeding, Redclaw crayfish need a specific daylight timing, i am sure the same may be true of some fish. apart from that, assuming you don't have plants, i cant see it really matters.

 

[OldMan47]

If you have no real plants, turn the lights on when you want to see the fish in the tanks and off when you go to bed. It will also help you not get an algae problem because you won't have enough light to get algae. If you have plants, I have found a timer is the only way to get my lighting consistent enough to control properly.

 

[williamc]

thanks boboboy

 

[williamc]

can anyone help?

 

[kevinthecow]

I have a timer on my fishtank but its becoming a hassel because of no outlests or when Im home on the weekends then the lights are turned off
Just wondering if I really need one or can I just turn the lights off when I go to bed and when I get home turn them on?

I know for breeding, Redclaw crayfish need a specific daylight timing, i am sure the same may be true of some fish. apart from that, assuming you don't have plants, i cant see it really matters.

Reminds me of stupid people who were going to cram at least 3 crayfish with goldfishes in their little tank last time I went to my lps.. I got one for my 10g tank, so i was happy. ):

Poor crayfish.


On topic : You should turn it off when you can, or when you want to see it. You could turn it on when guests are around, or when you want to see your fish. (Feeding, etc.)

im not sure if fish really need light at night, cause when I started my first tank, I had no lights. My fish went night without lights, but morning with lights.

Helps with algae too. ):

You should have seen my algae bloom. (its gone now. )

 

[Duck1976]

I have a timer on my fishtank but its becoming a hassel because of no outlests or when Im home on the weekends then the lights are turned off
Just wondering if I really need one or can I just turn the lights off when I go to bed and when I get home turn them on?

I use two digital timers (dirt cheap on ebay). One governs the main lights which are on 10am till 10pm and the other does the LED moonlights I have these come on at 6.30am-10.10 and 9.50pm-12.30, with the rest being darkness. Means that the fish don't get the sudden shock of the main lights coming straight on and also that I don't have ot bother turning them on and off myself.

Plus the fish are used to the routine now.

 

[Schmill]

Was going to say, I don't know how having it on a timer is a 'hassle' - lol

My current 60L tank has the main light on a timer, on at 9am, off at 6pm. It is a planted tank and that gives the plants the 9hrs of light that they light, and the normal room lights are more than enough to see the fish by the rest of the time.

My new tank is using electronic timers and has:

Main Lights: 9am to 6pm
Airpump: 12am (midnight) to 7pm (so that it's off in the evening when watching films etc because it's quite noisy!)
I'm also hoping to add some 'night lights' soon which will be on at aroun 6am, off at about 9:30am, on again at about 5:30pm, and off again around 11 or 12.

 

[williamc]

thanks everyone

 

[petertr]

I have a simple old-fashional "dial" type timer that turns my lights off and on for me.

I figure the room is already light, so the fish are aware its day / night time anyway, so my lights won't suprise them too much!