Timing of lights

[njparton]

I have a 140L tank containing 5 plants but have always suffered from a murkiness in the water.

I'm wondering if it's a form of algea and I need to reduce the time I have my loghts on?

I have 2 x 25W flourescent 30" tubes which are normally on from 8 am to 10 pm every day. The tank is not in direct sunlight and the room has vertical bllinds on the window, so with out lights on the tank doesn't get much natural light at all - especially at the back!

Should I reduce the timing of my lights, and if so to what (I'm out at work during week days anyway)?

 

[The_Budmaster]

hi there,
Yeh you should keep the lighting down to 10-12 hours a day or you will get problems with algae & green water

 

[njparton]

hi there,
Yeh you should keep the lighting down to 10-12 hours a day or you will get problems with algae & green water

Thanks for the confirmation. I guess that means my plants won't be putting as much 02 into the water so I'll have to rig up and air stone....

 

[mrV]

I'm wondering if it's a form of algea and I need to reduce the time I have my loghts on?

If you have problems with algaes, try to timing lights that there is 3-5 hours "off time" at daytime, like:

9-11 lights on
11-15 lights off
15-21 lights on

It might reduce algae growing...

 

[njparton]

I'm wondering if it's a form of algea and I need to reduce the time I have my loghts on?

If you have problems with algaes, try to timing lights that there is 3-5 hours "off time" at daytime, like:

9-11 lights on
11-15 lights off
15-21 lights on

It might reduce algae growing...

But that's a bit more unnatural - 2 periods of darkness in 24 hours?

My tank is quite a way from the nearest window so when the lights are off (even on a sunny day) the tank is quite dark.

I think I'd rather just turn them on later in the morning.