Tank Lights?

[Kara101584]

When do you guys turn your tank lights on and off? I have live plants, but I am not sure if my Betta likes the light off at night or what.

Thanks!

 

[Chrissy]

I keep Sushi's light on during the day unless there is enough sunlight coming into the room where he can actually see while inside the tank. I keep it off at night, though. But, I don't have live plants. What kind of plants do you have?

Hope I could help....

 

[bettaboi]

i keep it on from when i wake up from when i go to bed but i dont use live plants but i would like to so if ne one could give me some good kinds ill keep an eye on this post

 

[MyDogIsJealousOfMyFish]

My fuorescents are on an insta start ballast so I put the light on a timer. The light goes on at 6:15 am and turns off at 10:00 pm. I have plants in the tank and I have read in several places that they should have14 to 16 hours of light.

 

[Kara101584]

I have Java Fern in my tank, I hear its a pretty hardy plant. Is it bad to keep my tank light on all the time? I like to watch my fish at night, both my tanks are on each side of my bed...

 

[Raechal]

I don't have a light on my male betta's 2 gallon bowl. He gets plenty of light from my ceiling light that is practically right above him. Plus I usually keep the window open and he gets light from there as well. I have a few live plants in there and they seem to be growing fine without a light for his bowl.

But for my larger tank I have two lights. I turn them on at around 10-11 a.m. and turn them off at around 10-11 p.m. Works for me.

 

[Chrissy]

Do you have a thermometer in the tank? You should be watching the temps. in the tank so your betta doesn't get cooked. I don't know if it will happen that easly, but I've heard stories..

You might just want to turn the tank light off at night when your done watching him. The plants outside only get light all day, so I don't think it would harm your plants much. And java fern is one of the plants that doesn't need specific lighting.

 

[Kara101584]

Well, I don't have a heater in my tank so I think the light helps a bit keepnig the temp up. I have never really needed a heater, my house is VERY warm. But yes, I have a thermometer and the temp usually stays around 76-80.

 

[Chrissy]

That temp. is fine for a betta. I don't have a heater either, so thats why I keep the light on all day.

((Post some more pictures of your crowntail, either here or on Pettalk! He is such a cutie!))

 

[rdd1952]

I have a timer on one of my betta tanks and the other I just turn on and off when I'm home. Mine on the timer is on from 6 til 10 AM and then from 5 to 10 PM. The other I just turn on when I get up and off when I leave or go to bed. You definitely should give them some dark time. They need time without lights to rest just like we do.

If you leave your lights on for more than 10 to 12 hours a day, keep a look out for algae. What kind of tank and light do you have? My mini bows came with 15 watt incandescent bulbs which don't really do much for the plants. I upgraded to 8 wattt power compac bulbs. You would not believe how much brighter the tank, plants and fish are.

Someone also mentioned a thermometer. The lights will raise your water temperature but probably not more than a degree or two. I guess if they were on constantly it could be a little more.