How To Get More "viewing Time" Out Of My Tank?

[l_l_l]

Hi!
I have recently purchased a timer and now I'm setting it to be on for about 10 hours as I have plants in there.
I know that my tetras and betta prefer low light, and my plants as well, but I want to make sure that the plants do have enough light throughout the day.
 
The aquarium is in a moderately bright place (everywhere in the house is pretty sunny).
When I arrive back from work the light is already off and it makes me sad
 
I'm wondering if I put the timer per say from noon to 10pm, if that would put too much light in my aquarium? Including the fact that it will receive inderect sunlight?
What if I compensate by dimming the light from the fixture?
 
Thanks!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

You can also have the tank lights go off for part of the day when the natural light is the strongest. My tank lights vary in the on and off times as well as for how long they are on.

 

[l_l_l]

But wouldn't I still be sitting at more than 12 hours of light?

 

[Blobfish]

I read somewhere that a midday break in the lighting was best for the plants.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Why 10 hours of artificial light, if the tank gets plenty of light from indirect sources?
 
Why not just light the lights from 4pm-10pm, and let the natural light do the rest?

 

[l_l_l]

Why 10 hours of artificial light, if the tank gets plenty of light from indirect sources?
 
Why not just light the lights from 4pm-10pm, and let the natural light do the rest?

I'm not sure, I was under the impression that I should be giving the aquarium lots of light to succeed!
I'll try to give from 4pm to 10pm and see what happens

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, the way you described the natural light in the room, it makes it sound like there is already going to be a fairly large amount of light.  You can always extend the photo period, by having the lights come on earlier and earlier until you get it the way you want it.

 

[fluttermoth]

I do a similar thing with my bedroom tank. I'm only in there in the evenings (I do read a lot before I go to sleep ), so I pop up and switch the lights on at three or four o' clock and switch them off at ten or eleven . That tank gets a fair bit of light during the day as well and my plants are doing fine

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

When Im having an issue with algae the light stays off 9-10 hours of the day and is on just when Im home. It works well and the fish are pretty much on the same lighting schedule.