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i currently have a 29 gallon aquarium with two senegal bichirs and a ghost knifefish. (I know that is considered overstocking and will eventually transfer them to a larger tank when i can afford one). my question is that i read that all 3 fish are nocturnal so i put some tin foil around the bulb to restrict the light intensity in the aquarium. I have plastic plants in the aquarium because live plants wont grow in low lighting. Is it alright to leave the light on all the time (approximitly 24 hrs. a day). it is so dim that it bearly lights up the substrate(during the day, i cant even tell the light is on), but i have the light on anyway just for show. i was wondering if i left the light on i could "trick" the nocturnal fish into thinking that it is night time even when the light is on at night. The day light from my rooms window plus the light from the aquarium would be the equivalent to days for them. I hope this makes since to everyone. Will this work?

any help is greatly appreciated. thank you

johnny

Why leave the light on at night?
If the fish are nocturnal, they are used hunting, eating swimming in lower light and if you are sleeping at night can't watch them why have the light on? Is it so you can view them doing normal activity, but won't the light on make them think it is still daylight and screw with their internal clock?

Last edited by openwater at 26-Oct-2004 17:52

I also have two senegal bichirs and have read they are nocturnal. However, my two bichirs are always swimming all over the tank day and night! In fact, they are in the tank right beside my computer and as I am typing this, they are both sitting in the corner looking at me. I think they are telling me I haven't fed them yet today.

i forgot to mention, i am up at all hours of the day, i got to school during the day and i sleep in the evening, and am up at night. my schedule fluctuates so i wanted to see the fish when ever possible.

have you considered buying a 'blue' light for the tank? i've heard it simulates moonlight and they can't really tell its on but you can see what they're doing

On the blue light topic. I know someone that purchased a landscaping decortive light. It is round and cames with a blue light bulb or maybe it was blue lens. It seems to work okay and I believe they ended up saving a few bucks in the process.