Lighting

[Dudush]

This is a real beginners question, but can anyone help me clarify this?
I have been keeping my tanks light on all night, and off during the day as we have daylight. Is it correct? We have a 35l tank with plants 2 guppys (8 two days old fry) a couple of swords, 2 leopard danios and a bottom sucker (sorry dunno the name!).
Can anyone tell me when it's best to have the light on/off?
Thanks!

 

[Bloo]

Most people have their lights on for a period of approx 10 hours and then switch them off at night to simpulate nature. If you don't have a planted tank, they light is merely for our better more enjoyable viewing pleasure and serves little other purpose. Your fish need some period of no light to rest and chill out.

 

[Torrean]

I bought a timer so my fish didn't have to deal with my odd sleeping patterns. The lights turn on every morning at nine cut off at around 1 then cut back on at around 2 and stay on until 9 at night. I don't remember why I put the break in there I did it so long ago. I believe it is supposed to do something to algae??? not sure on that one. You should alter your pattern so that the lights are on more during the day. Bloo is right they need some time to chill out.

 

[EasterIslandMan]

I have another question regarding this: if you don't have any live plants then do you need to turn on the light at all? I don't usually turn it on at all.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Your fish must have some serious insomnia issues. Good lighting as mentioned above helps create healthy plants + lets you see your fish. In a mature, balanced tank containing real plants you could get away with just having it in direct sunlight during the day (as long as temp. didnt increase too much) and not put lights on at all. Algae would be completely outcompeted by plants so wouldnt grow at all and fish would experience a very natural light and dark cycle.

Realistically thou, we try to replicate the swing from day to night with timed lighting, some people even use multiple bulbs to gradually increase intensity throughout the day. In the pinned algae article in the planted tanks section it talks in detail about lighting and mentions research where algae growth was inhibited by having lights on for 5 hours, off for 2, then on for 5 again. Dont really know if it works but its what im doing and my algae situation definitely seems to have improved.

Give it a go and see what you think. They definitely need to be off at night thou and on for no longer than 10 hours in the day.

 

[EasterIslandMan]

^^ Thanks!

 

[Dudush]

Thank you very much, Bloo, Torrean and JonesyUK!

I will def change my lighting then, as JonesyUK said, my fish are probably getting a lot of insomnia, the poor ones!
I think the ideal would be not to have to resort to lighting and just making the most of daylight which might be possible during the summer, but with the UK winter, hummmm...
Anyway, thanks to you all for the great help!

PS: JosnesyUK what a wonderful tank you have! Beautiful photo!