lighting

[Stef]

I've just moved my two fantails to a new, bigger tank. All is fine - I spent
a long time getting it established etc etc and water is fine. However the
old small tank just had one of those pygmy lights in it - the kind you get
inside ovens etc? This one has the full fluorescent tube - and they hate it.
I have live plants so need to have the light on but when it's on, they hide
in the corner under the filter although they swim around fine when it's off.
i'm in the UK and at our local aquarium shop, these are the standard
fluorescent tubes sold for tanks so I'm not really sure how to alter it. I
thought maybe I could get a dimmer switch that is on a plug socket but
certainly no electrical shop around here seems to have one.
Or will the fish get used to it do you think?
Thanks for any help

[Geezer From The Freezer]

Stef wrote:
>
> I've just moved my two fantails to a new, bigger tank. All is fine - I spent
> a long time getting it established etc etc and water is fine. However the
> old small tank just had one of those pygmy lights in it - the kind you get
> inside ovens etc? This one has the full fluorescent tube - and they hate it.
> I have live plants so need to have the light on but when it's on, they hide
> in the corner under the filter although they swim around fine when it's off.
> i'm in the UK and at our local aquarium shop, these are the standard
> fluorescent tubes sold for tanks so I'm not really sure how to alter it. I
> thought maybe I could get a dimmer switch that is on a plug socket but
> certainly no electrical shop around here seems to have one.
> Or will the fish get used to it do you think?
> Thanks for any help

stef,

why not buy some ornaments for them to play in - this will block
some of the light. I'm sure they will eventually get used to it.
How long have they been in the new tank?

[Graeme]

"Stef" > wrote in message
...
> I've just moved my two fantails to a new, bigger tank. All is fine - I
spent
> a long time getting it established etc etc and water is fine. However the
> old small tank just had one of those pygmy lights in it - the kind you
get
> inside ovens etc? This one has the full fluorescent tube - and they hate
it.
> I have live plants so need to have the light on but when it's on, they
hide
> in the corner under the filter although they swim around fine when it's
off.
> i'm in the UK and at our local aquarium shop, these are the standard
> fluorescent tubes sold for tanks so I'm not really sure how to alter it. I
> thought maybe I could get a dimmer switch that is on a plug socket but
> certainly no electrical shop around here seems to have one.
> Or will the fish get used to it do you think?
> Thanks for any help
>
>

Yeah I had the same problem when my fish where first introduced to a light.
Try switching it on around the same time every day (unless you have it on
for 24 hours). When mine is switched on, some of the fish will go to the
spot under the filter, and than around a minute or so later is out again and
swimming. I also found having a background around the tank helps (apart
from the side where you look though of course), as it gives the fish an
enclosed space, and did in my case help them get used to the light (as they
were really bad at the start without it)

Graeme

[Stef]

OK, thanks both - I was going to go out later and try to find a lower watt
light but maybe I'll give it a bit longer. I had it on for about 2 hours
this morning then felt sorry for them and turned it off (Certainly looks
nicer with the brighter light). They have some plants (real and artificial)
and some coral to hide in but they seem to prefer to shelter under the
filter. I was going to get a mirror to go at the back but maybe I'll get a
background instead (although it's against a darkish wall anyway).
It's definitely not going to harm them having the light on though?

[Geezer From The Freezer]

Stef wrote:
>
> OK, thanks both - I was going to go out later and try to find a lower watt
> light but maybe I'll give it a bit longer. I had it on for about 2 hours
> this morning then felt sorry for them and turned it off (Certainly looks
> nicer with the brighter light). They have some plants (real and artificial)
> and some coral to hide in but they seem to prefer to shelter under the
> filter. I was going to get a mirror to go at the back but maybe I'll get a
> background instead (although it's against a darkish wall anyway).
> It's definitely not going to harm them having the light on though?

stef,

try and get them used to a light cycle - i.e. same time on same time off.
Do not turn on and off too frequently.