Switch Lighting off

Hi,

I have a community tank with 3 plants, do i have to turn the light off at night?

 

yes, you should...the lights should be on for about 10-12hours as i've read...minimum being 8hours...

 

Yeah, the fish won't be very happy sleeping with the lights on.

If you want a light to view the tank at night, I suggest you find a moonlight or make one yourself. We found a very nice LED kit thingy which we're using as a "moonlight"
You can barely see in the tank, but the glow it creates is quite mystical.

 

ja those moonlights are a grand a pop

 

Hi there....

From what i understand, you need to try to replicate the sunlight hours in nature so that your plants grow successfully.

My lights are on from 11am to 11pm. And my plants are thriving

12hours a day should be enough.

Try to get a timer for your lights. it will save you the effort.

i've heard of people keeping their lights on for 6hours twice a day... but 10-12 hours works for me.

hope this helps. sharp

 

i give up on plants

 

That's insane!
I dare not spend more than R100.00 per bulb.
We bought an LED lamp set thingy (about 30 leds in one contraption) for R75.00 and it works wonders.

Nice explanation there eb.adam

My lights are also on for 10-14 hours a day. Switch em on at 7am and off at 7pm sometimes I'll forget and they'll only go off at 8 or 9. Usually the moonlight is on from 7pm till 10 or 11 when we go to bed.

 

thats why i didnt buy it

 

Ja geez man... I can't get over that figure. Must've been some new space tech or something

 

the real moon most likely

 

Search for DIY Moonlight... I did a thread on making one cheap-cheap.

 

"i give up on plants" noooooo freak just don't try and keep them with your oscars ... Have a "moon light" in the boyu never use it - think it is great for marine .. but really do we need to for guppies and plants?

 

thanks Linxie

 

i heard that theres a moon light that can replicate the moon in a 28-30 day cycle, thats what oscar freak probably saw..

 

whateva i saw it was expensive maybe when i win the lotto.f-fish we live we learn

 

hi guys

what is the benefit or disadvantage of leaving the lights on for +- 15hrs
good or bad?
:wondering:

 

bad, i used to have my lights on from 7am to 11pm, i had an algae problem, brown hair like algae on my plants, i cut my lights down to 10hrs a day, 1pm to 11pm, and the algae had stopped...IMO the longer lights are on it would encourage algae growth...

 

BAD!

(Good for plant growth... I think.) But bear in mind that even plants need the darkenss to rest.

BAD because long lengths of time with light will promote algae.

 

Get a auto timer for your lights,mine came with one from the old owners,the lights stay off during the night and go on about 05:00 in the morning.

 

lol read Zooms thread about those timers. get the right one. Im sure he was about to tell us.
I made a moonlight with an old pc power supply and a pc neon light. cost me what R50+-

its a bit darker in the pic than in real life