Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
May 23, 2013, 05:23:11 PM
Home Search Search Login Register

+  Pet Goldfish - Aquarium Forum Community
|-+  Aquarium
| |-+  Tank and Equipment
| | |-+  Tank lighting question		 « previous next »
Pages: [1]
Author Topic: Tank lighting question  (Read 589 times)
Systonic
Newbie
*

Karma: 0
Posts: 7
Tank lighting question
« on: June 01, 2010, 10:36:41 PM »
Ok, so I have an indoor tank now, and I was under the impression that when I wake up in the morning, I turn on the tank lights.  They are to stay on all day, until it starts getting dark outside, and the I shut the lights off.  I just read "Do not leave the tanks light on for more than a few hours at a time. This can lead to the water over heating and also causes algae growth. "  Is that a true statement?  I work 8+ hours a day, M-F, so there would be no way for me to regulate this.  My tank comes with two lights, so I normally turn one light off when I get home from work (5pm~) and turn the second one off around 7-8pm.  I read the information at (Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.)   .
Logged
Bohrah
Newbie
*

Karma: 0
Posts: 10
Re: Tank lighting question
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2010, 11:17:57 PM »
They sell mechanical and digital timers at the stores (They have many varieties at Home Depot, but you can find them at pet stores , Wal-mart etcc). The timer makes managing the aquarium a lot easier. You can plug the aquarium lighting into these timers and set how many times per day or for how long you want the light to stay on. For instance you can set it so the light comes on and off for 3 hours at a time if you wanted.  Whether or not the lighting will heat up the water depends on what type of light is used and its distance from the water.  Incandescent and halogen light will produce more heat than a fluorescent tube for example.  You can adjust how long you want the light to stay on based on the specific conditions for your tank.
Logged
Nossie
Hero Member
*****

Karma: 481
Posts: 5469
Re: Tank lighting question
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2010, 03:07:52 AM »
I'd say that it's pretty much bulls h i t... that statement about keeping the light on only for a few hours.
I keep mine on for 10-12 hours, which is perfect. Since the light should be off for at least 12, it's fine for you to keep it on for the eight hours you mentioned that you're in work.
But if you do notice algae problems you could remove an hour or two from the lighting schedule, install a timer or something, I always use them when I'm away from my fish (:
Logged
Hanna
Hero Member
*****

Karma: 257
Posts: 3108
Re: Tank lighting question
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2010, 03:32:32 AM »
We do use our light which is on a timer for about 4 hours when it is getting dark until we go to bed too.
We did have it on all the day but too many algae .
So you can regulate the time you like to have the light on. It is no need to use it during day time if it is light enough inside.
Logged
Mindemae
Hero Member
*****

Karma: 256
Posts: 2456
Re: Tank lighting question
« Reply #4 on: June 02, 2010, 10:29:41 AM »
Goldfish do not need light themselves, however plants DO!  If you have plants in your tank you will need flourescent lighting.  It will NOT heat up the tank as incadescent bulbs will.  Plants will need about 8-12 hours of light per day.  A timer is a great idea.
Logged
Pages: [1]  
« previous next »
Jump to:  
Page created in 0.158 seconds with 17 queries.