Lights

[luka11486]

i was wondering if i am supposed to turn my aquarium light off at night. i have been turning it off but i have heard that i'm not supposed to. it's an argument that has been brewing between a few of my friends and i. i want to settle this dispute asap. lol. the reason i turn it off is because fishies have no eyelids and i think that would bother them. am i wrong about this? help!!!

 

[Riley]

I turn my lights off. Most of the fish in saltwater are caught from the wild. As goes for live rock. So they need night and day aswell. If you are worried about it then you can get LED Lunar lights. They are special little blue lights that you turn on at night to help out your corals. They are also quite attractive. I got my new fixture in today and it has 3 built in. not only are they benifical to corals but they acted like a black light and everything that was white in there glew including the white strips on my percula clowns and the white on my skunk cleaners.

-Riley

 

[steelhealr]

OFF. Recommendations are 10-12 hours. The fish will get stressed and you'll contribute to an algae bloom. SH

 

[parker313]

Definitely turn them off.

I can't even keep my lights on more than 8hrs or I get a crazy algae bloom.

 

[Lynden]

Who said that you shouldnt turn your lights off? You should always try to replicate the naturals conditions of the animals. Also, algae will grow like wildfire if the lights are left on all night.

Sometimes, however there may be a nocturnal animal that needs to be kept at bay.....
For instance, i came down one night and found my little moray chasing a goby , so i kept a little light on. Not enough to grow algae, and not so much that the fishes couldnt sleep. The moray settled down and i fed him the next day.


P.S., Riley your light fixture finally came in?!

 

[Riley]

agreed.
Yes it came in,but the daylight bulb was busted oh well im ordering in one. It was kind of pathetic, I called an Electrical wholesale company to see if I could order one in from them and I had to explain what a compact fluorecent bulb was

 

[Lynden]

When i went to home hardware, i had to explain everything to them. Its too bad they werent on a gameshow and i was the host, i wouldnt have to give them any money then

 

[luka11486]

i just bought a new bulb for the tank. a marine glo. it does have a bluish tint to it and my fishies lok awesome when it is on. thank you. i can't wait until i brag to my friend about this. it's not to often that i am right about things so this is gonna be nice. hehe

 

[Navarre]

Even though there is rarely total darkness on a reef, you must have a period f lights out or at least a period of moonlights (and i dont mean actinics).

 

[pluto21]

only keep your lights on for a period of 8 hours, any longer than this (especially permanently) and you will get a build up of phosphates which will then contribute to a vast build up of algae.