How Long Should The Lights Be On?

Hi All,

Now that I've got my tank all set up the way I want with my massively
overpowering lights (well, they would be if I had them all on at
once).... How long should I leave the lights on? Can you over light a
tank? Right now they're on from 7:15 am to 11:45 pm.

Thanks,
Ben

10-12 hours... even my cobomba closes up shop for the night at about 11
hours. Equatorial tropical countries get an average 12 hours of sunlight on
any given day and most plants and fish we love to cultivate in our tanks are
usually native to those areas. So take your pick... 10 or 12. I'm sure
others on this group can tell you all the drawbacks to leaving lights on for
longer periods but I just do it for 11 hours so the fish feel more like
they're in their natural environment.

Surgicalrn wrote:

10-12 hours... even my cobomba closes up shop for the night at about 11
hours. Equatorial tropical countries get an average 12 hours of sunlight on
any given day and most plants and fish we love to cultivate in our tanks are
usually native to those areas. So take your pick... 10 or 12. I'm sure
others on this group can tell you all the drawbacks to leaving lights on for
longer periods but I just do it for 11 hours so the fish feel more like
they're in their natural environment.

that what I was thinking. I bought I timer that has up to 3 on-off
cycles. I'll have to set it to go off sometime during the day. I like
it on early and late as that's when I'm home to look at them.

-Ben

Ok. It's a 55 Gallon. I have 220W of lighting although, I never run
more than 110 of it at any time. I run the whites while I'm around and
the blues while I'm out. It's a lightly planted tank. I'd sort of like
the plants I have to grow before I put in anymore.

I've got a sandy (not sure what kind, it's green with purple), a small
banana plant, DWARF SAGITTARIA, ANACHARIS, CRYPT WENDTII and HORNWORT.
I had some red foxtail but apparently that tastes very good.

I do have a timer. It's set for what I put below. I plan to reduce
that amount it's on thanks to the advice of the people here.

-Ben

gizmo wrote:
Well you didn't give much information on your tank size and light setup and
is it a heavily planted tank ?
But.... You are lighting your tank for about 16.5 hours.
It is mostly recommended that light duration will be 10 up to 12 hours (some
even light less). I would get a timer and start lighting for about 10 hours
see how it goes and making the proper adjustments.
Over light will cause algae to develop and bloom in your tank (that's only
if you want to grow algae ???
Startup with 10 hours a day see how it goes and adjust as your needs.

gizmo
"Ben" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

Now that I've got my tank all set up the way I want with my massively
overpowering lights (well, they would be if I had them all on at
once).... How long should I leave the lights on? Can you over light a
tank? Right now they're on from 7:15 am to 11:45 pm.

Thanks,
Ben

Thats probably not the best idea...I have never tried it myself, but i
have read that it will stress out the fish - its not natural for the
sun to set in the middle of the day, and then rise again a few hours
later. What i do, since i enjoy watching my fish later on at night,
is i have the timer come on about noon, then stay on until about 11 or
12 at night...seems to work pretty good for me...this way, there is
also a little bit of ambient light in the mornings that i like to
convince myself simulates 'dawn'

Anyways, i dont really know what im talking about, but thats what IIII
would do.

-Connor

Ben wrote in message ...
Surgicalrn wrote:

10-12 hours... even my cobomba closes up shop for the night at about 11
hours. Equatorial tropical countries get an average 12 hours of sunlight on
any given day and most plants and fish we love to cultivate in our tanks are
usually native to those areas. So take your pick... 10 or 12. I'm sure
others on this group can tell you all the drawbacks to leaving lights on for
longer periods but I just do it for 11 hours so the fish feel more like
they're in their natural environment.

that what I was thinking. I bought I timer that has up to 3 on-off
cycles. I'll have to set it to go off sometime during the day. I like
it on early and late as that's when I'm home to look at them.

-Ben

Well you didn't give much information on your tank size and light setup and
is it a heavily planted tank ?
But.... You are lighting your tank for about 16.5 hours.
It is mostly recommended that light duration will be 10 up to 12 hours (some
even light less). I would get a timer and start lighting for about 10 hours
see how it goes and making the proper adjustments.
Over light will cause algae to develop and bloom in your tank (that's only
if you want to grow algae ???
Startup with 10 hours a day see how it goes and adjust as your needs.

gizmo
"Ben" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

Now that I've got my tank all set up the way I want with my massively
overpowering lights (well, they would be if I had them all on at
once).... How long should I leave the lights on? Can you over light a
tank? Right now they're on from 7:15 am to 11:45 pm.

Thanks,
Ben

Definately leave the lights on for less time! You may not see a change
immediately in the fish but it is recommended to keep the lights on at max
for 10 hours a day. If you have live plants, it is required 10 hours.

Yes, you can over light a tank. The fish can get very stressed. It also
raises the temp. Keep an eye on them and kill the lights earlier!!
"Ben" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

Now that I've got my tank all set up the way I want with my massively
overpowering lights (well, they would be if I had them all on at
once).... How long should I leave the lights on? Can you over light a
tank? Right now they're on from 7:15 am to 11:45 pm.

Thanks,
Ben