Led Lightng. Can It Be Left On?

[Spannaz]

Have installed about a dozen or so small white LED's along the centre light of my tank, to try and create a low light effect of an evening, but i just wondered if they can be left on over night or should they be put on a timer like my normal T8's?
I was going to make up a system so as the main lights went off the LED's came on and vice versa.

 

[minxfishy]

I wouldnt leave them on all night, the fish need sometime in darkness, you could have them on timer to turn off sometime after the main lights and have them come on an hour or so before the main lights, thus not shocking the fish from darkness to light.

Also leaving them on could cause a problem with algae as too much light for long periods of time will encourage algae growth.

 

[Spannaz]

I wouldnt leave them on all night, the fish need sometime in darkness, you could have them on timer to turn off sometime after the main lights and have them come on an hour or so before the main lights, thus not shocking the fish from darkness to light.

Also leaving them on could cause a problem with algae as too much light for long periods of time will encourage algae growth.

good point, its a large tank (4ft) and there are only 12 LED's spread into batches of 4 along the centre. Plenty of shade and dark areas, but wanted to create a "in between" period of light from dark to full on light. This way i can still enjoy the tank without having all the lights on, and creating a more natural lighting effect