How Long Can I Leave The Tank Lights On?

[daizeUK]

When my 60L tank is nearly done cycling I plan to add a few easy, low-light plants that do well in hard water. I've shortlisted hornwort, Beckett's crypt and short Vallis to start with (if I can get hold of them).

Tank has two 15W lights in the hood, one side is white and the other blue. Half the tank also receives direct sunlight for a few hours before midday.

I'd definitley like to have the lights on at mealtimes so that my family can enjoy the tank when they sit at the table, starting with breakfast at 7:30 am and dinner finishing at around 6:30 in the evening. Is eleven hours of light too long for the types of plants I am planning to get?

If that's too long then I have an electric timer that I could program to turn the lights on only around mealtimes. Would this be better or would it confuse the fish with lights coming on and off all day?

 

[GGss6]

When my 60L tank is nearly done cycling I plan to add a few easy, low-light plants that do well in hard water. I've shortlisted hornwort, Beckett's crypt and short Vallis to start with (if I can get hold of them).

Tank has two 15W lights in the hood, one side is white and the other blue. Half the tank also receives direct sunlight for a few hours before midday.

I'd definitley like to have the lights on at mealtimes so that my family can enjoy the tank when they sit at the table, starting with breakfast at 7:30 am and dinner finishing at around 6:30 in the evening. Is eleven hours of light too long for the types of plants I am planning to get?

If that's too long then I have an electric timer that I could program to turn the lights on only around mealtimes. Would this be better or would it confuse the fish with lights coming on and off all day?

You should be fine with the timer, that's a good idea. I wouldn't leave the light on 11 hours....

 

[KCB]

I think 11 hours is a little long but it won't do any harm. The only problem you might have is algae but as long as you clean it off every week then it shouldn't become unmanageable.

Not sure on the timer idea as I don't know what it would do to the fish behaviour wise. It's not really a natural pattern but I can't see that it would harm the fish or stress them much .

 

[Ps3Steveo]

8-10 hours max.

 

[techen]

What Steveo said, To avoid algae I would look around 8 hours.

 

[daizeUK]

Okay thanks for the answers. I'll aim to have the lights on for 8 hours total.

If nobody thinks it would stress the fish or interfere with the plants, I'll use my timer to break up those 8 hours throughout the day.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Your best off with a single siesta for a couple of hours and if your tank is low tech you might get away with 10 hours.

 

[daizeUK]

Great thanks.