AquaRank.com

FishProfiles.com Message Forums

faq | etiquette | register | my account | search | mailbox
# FishProfiles.com Message Forums
L# Freshwater Aquaria
 L# Planted Aquaria
  L# Lighting duration
 Post Reply  New Topic
SubscribeLighting duration
upikabu
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 591
Kudos: 393
Votes: 44
Registered: 08-Jun-2005
male australia
Hi all,

I have a stupid question for those of you who work during the day and have planted tank(s): when does your light come on and off? Currently all my tank lights are on a timer, 6am to 4pm. I do this because I usually feed the fish at 7am (I like to give them some time to "wake up" before they eat ) and I go to work at 8am. Problem is, I don't come back home until after 6pm, so I could never enjoy my fish tanks at nights on weekdays. Also means that my fish only gets to eat once a day, which is ok I suppose (they look healthy, just don't get bigger).

I read in the Baensch Atlas that turning the lights off for a couple of hours in the middle of the day doesn't affect plant growth and might even prevent algae issue. Can anyone vouch for that? I don't have any big algae issue at the moment, so I don't want to break something that's working. But if I could have the lights on from 6am-12pm and 2pm-8pm without affecting the plants, that means my fish could eat twice a day. Any thoughts?

Sorry for the rambling (it's Friday afternoon and I'm bored at work ). Thanks!

Last edited by upikabu at 30-Sep-2005 00:31

-P
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Report 
mattyboombatty
 
**********
---------------
---------------
-----
Moderator
Tenellus Obsessor
Posts: 2790
Kudos: 1507
Votes: 1301
Registered: 26-Mar-2004
male usa us-northcarolina

I read in the Baensch Atlas that turning the lights off for a couple of hours in the middle of the day doesn't affect plant growth and might even prevent algae issue


This would probably work out just right for you. I've put breaks in the day before with no ill effects. However, I currently just have the lights turn on at about noon so I can enjoy the tank after I get home from work, and feed them twice after work. Either way aught to work well for ya.



Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
sham
*********
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 3369
Kudos: 2782
Votes: 98
Registered: 21-Apr-2004
female usa
The first light comes on at noon and the last one goes off at 10pm. The tank is brightest at 3-5pm. The curtains are always kept closed in that room. I haven't had a problem with that and neither do the fish.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
The lights don't have to be on to feed them. If the room as a window, the fish enjoy a bit of early morning light (most of them do their spawning at this time, so really do enjoy it )

I feed mine in the morning with just a little natural light, they have no problems finding the food, in fact there's usually a line of fish waiting at the top for breakfast.


Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
keithgh
 
---------------
---------------
*Ultimate Fish Guru*
Posts: 6371
Kudos: 6918
Votes: 1542
Registered: 26-Apr-2003
male australia au-victoria
Upikabu
At the moment it is light at 6am in Melb any way. I would alter the clock to come on about 10am and go off at 8pm. Remember daylight saving is comming up unless you are in Qld just try with a few different settings.
I would not be infavour of lights off during the day as the poor fish & plants would be too confused

During the winter the room lighting would be enough for feeding.

http://fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Photo%20Booth/49003.html?200508270342
Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
upikabu
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 591
Kudos: 393
Votes: 44
Registered: 08-Jun-2005
male australia
Thanks for the tips. I've moved the timer to 10am-8pm on the tank that's in a bright room and will try the morning feeding under natural light. I am also going to try the 2hr midday breakup (6am-12pm, 2pm-8pm) on the tank that's in a dark room. The other tank will remain as is (6am-4pm), so I can compare the effects of the changes (if any).

And Keith, I am in QLD, so no daylight savings (thank goodness).

Thanks again!

-P
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
upikabu,

I hear your pain. I have the same problem as I leave the house at 7 and I am back by 6 at night. For a while I did the same than what you are just starting to do, turning off the lights at midday for a few hours. I also heard that it should help in preventing algae from getting the upper hand because they need a longer startup phase to grow when the lights come on.

Nevertheless, I gave up on that method. I know I am not attempting to replicate the nature in my tanks, but a 2 hour lights off period during the day does not happen naturally. People say that branched of trees shade the water during the day cycle, but the remaining light in nature is so much stronger and fish have the option to swim into these sections where there is no shade (as I have seen many times in ponds).

I prefer now to adjust my light period to a later start (and as such end) time, but it all depends on the individual tank and owners preferences.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
crazyred
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Addict
LAZY and I don't care :D
Posts: 575
Kudos: 360
Votes: 293
Registered: 26-Aug-2005
female usa
I've been in this quandry for a while as well and here's what I'm doing at the moment.....I get up in the morning (6:30) turn on some room light so as not to blind the fish. After a while I turn on the tank light, do a head count (still paranoid) I turn the lights off when I leave at 7:45, by then the sun has come up and there is natural light filtering in through my sliding glass doors. I go home for lunch at noon, turn the tank light on and leave it on until about 9:00. I figure the full light at noon would simulate the noonday sun. I feed in the evening around 6:00 or 7:00 same time we eat....by then the little darlings are hungry. My plants are doing okay with this schedule as well as the fishies. No algae thus far, but that could be thanks to "Lips" my pleco.


~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
jsparkman
----------
Hobbyist
Posts: 129
Kudos: 101
Votes: 0
Registered: 14-Sep-2003
male usa
I have a floor lamp on a time that comes on at 6am for an hour. It's across the room from the tank. I feed about 6:45am and then when I get home around 5pm or so. The tank lights come on at 8am and stay on until 9pm. The floor lamp comes on again around 8:45pm and stays on about 45 min then it's bed time for them!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
jsparkman,

That is quite a long lighting period, 13 hours.

How strong is your light and what is the tank size (135G?).

No issues as of yet? When did you start this setup?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Babelfish
 
**********
---------------
---------------
---------------
Administrator
Small Fry with Ketchup
Posts: 6833
Kudos: 8324
Votes: 1570
Registered: 17-Apr-2003
female australia us-maryland
Current lighting *attempts to remember*

8.30a - 7.00 P
On again 9-11p So I can come home to a semi lit house .

Durring the summer 3am-10am and on again in the evenings sometime :%)...for heat reasons. Light timers are a gift from the plant gods :%)!

^_^[hr width='40%']
"in any case, chocolate is hardly a rare comodity." said Chaos. "There are planets covered in the stuff"
REALLY?
"Indeed."
IT MIGHT BE BEST, said Death, IF NEWS LIKE THAT DID NOT GET ABOUT. ~ Theif of Time [link=Terry Pratchett]http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile Homepage AIM MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
jsparkman
----------
Hobbyist
Posts: 129
Kudos: 101
Votes: 0
Registered: 14-Sep-2003
male usa
LittleFish, I currently only have 145w and yes, it's 135 gal. plants have been in for 2 weeks now and they look fine. all show new growth. I just receivd additional lighting that will take it up to 220w so i'll be playing with the duration. I've read that lights should be on between 10-13 hrs per day.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
jsparkman,

I am pretty sure that it will be essential for your tank that you reduce the light duration once the new wattage is applied.

As our friend Bensaf would say: “plants are only willing to work for a certain time and then would like to close shop for the night (as can be seen in various fine leaves stem plants that literally close their tops). Any additional light thereafter will greatly benefit the algae production.”

I am actually not really quoting him here, but you get the point.

Hey, how about posting some pics of the tank (maybe you did, but I didn’t see any)?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
jsparkman
----------
Hobbyist
Posts: 129
Kudos: 101
Votes: 0
Registered: 14-Sep-2003
male usa
I posted pics in another thread. these were taken the day I planted.

http://community.webshots.com/album/459553078ENNLOA

I'm going to take updated pics tonight and again after I add the lights and then repost.

James
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
The WPG goes out the window with such a large tank. Your current lighting is actually pretty good for a big tank.

The 220 watts would allow you to grow anything.

Any Co2 on this tank ? If not I'd be a bit worried about the 220 watts.

Lights on for about 11 hours.

If you have 2 fixtures, you could try staggering them. Have the 135 watts run for the full 11 hours but only run the full 220 watts for about 4 hours in the middle of the lighting period. This is the kind of method Amano uses on his tanks. All his tanks are basically low light, he just gives a big blast of light in the middle of the day to spur on photosynthesis. The rest of the time the tanks are basically low light.

Sorry, forgot to mention, nice tank . More plants !!!!

Last edited by bensaf at 04-Oct-2005 21:27


Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Post Reply  New Topic
Jump to: 

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies