lighting

[cheeky_chappie]

got my new rio 180 in my bedroom, quite a bright room during the day so tank lights aren't on, tank is never subjected to direct sunlight though. I put them on in the evening from around 6pm to 11pm or midnight. is lighting purely a cosmetic thing (I have no live plants in the tank) or do tropical fish in general benefit from a few hours of tank lighting per day?

 

[alabaster]

Unless you have live plants, its generally not important at all. In fact, some, if not most fish like dimmer lights.

 

[mlee0332]

some types of fish require lighting to help simulate their native habitats. Like guppies for example, they require 10-16 hrs of light per day. Lighting can also help heat the water if you have tropical fish. It won't help a ton but it will help a little.

But then on the other hand, plecs like the dark. It depends if you tank has nocturnal fish or not.

 

[yvez9]

it's necessary to ahve a day/night cycle, otherwise the bilogical clock of the fish will be screwed up.

Ambien light is sufficient in most cases if there are no live plants. I just like the look of a lighted tank though. It's up to you