Should i turn aquarium light off

This happens more with metal halides and incandescent bulbs and can alter the temperature to a greater extent in smaller aquariums than in larger ones. These lights should be avoided for aquarium use because it will cause a discrepancy in the temperature when you turn it on and off. The temperature should be more or less consistent throughout the day. In smaller aquariums, these bulbs can also cause a great rise in the water temperature, possibly killing your fish and plants in the process.

Some freshwater fish require higher temperatures than others. There are also light bulbs sold in the market that are advertised as both heating and illuminating. For the same reasons mentioned above, using such bulbs for your aquarium is not the best idea. Your best bet for an aquarium light is an LED bulb.

The light emitted from these bulbs penetrates the water sufficiently, giving your pets enough light during the day. You can then add a separate heater to maintain the temperature in your aquarium. When choosing natural plants to accompany your fish in the aquarium, be sure to pick those which are from a similar habitat as your fish.

If the plant needs a colder climate than what your fish require, there is a chance that the plant will dehydrate due to excessive heat and die. There are things that can do that without your help. You can get an automatic dimmer that turns on and off at specific times of the day. You can then stay consistent with the light-darkness balance without having you to do anything other than set timers.

Or else you can buy LED lights that can be controlled using your phone app. One important step in respecting that responsibility is by being punctual with the time you turn on and off the light for your aquarium. You will harm your fish by varying the time of day for them. To recreate tropical conditions, there must be equal hours of light and darkness each day.

Coldwater fish and plants, on the other hand, live in aquatic areas with fluctuating daylight hours. Therefore, it is best to match the seasonal daylight hours with your aquarium lighting. Saltwater fish, depending on the type of aquarium you have, need 8 to 10 hours of light, to best simulate their natural aquatic surroundings. As most fish require both periods of light and darkness each day, turning your aquarium light off at night is a good idea.

It will mimic the natural cycle of daylight and provide the fish and plants with ample light to be healthy and vibrant. For optimal visual enjoyment, it is recommended that you leave the tank light on during the day so you can clearly view the fish and then turn if off when you go to sleep at night. A blue ambient light in an aquarium is meant to mimic moonlight.

Many saltwater fish can live without light, especially those who dwell at depths greater than metres. A minimum of 8 hours of light per day is recommended, with a maximum of 12 hours.

All fish tanks need light, as most fish require both periods of light and darkness throughout the day. Tank lighting not only helps regulate the sleeping and eating habits of your fish but it also enhances fish colors and makes it easier to spot any potential problems. She holds degrees in developmental psychology and philosophy from Georgia State University.

By Brenna Davis. Fish Lighting Requirements Before determining how much light to give your fish each day, check the care requirements for your individual species, as needs vary slightly. Problems From Light The most common problem caused by excessive light is algae overgrowth. Regulating Temperature If you use a heat light to warm your aquarium, you may need to use an aquarium heater instead, particularly if you have tropical fish who require warm temperatures.

References Freshwater Aquarium Chemistry; Dr. In case your fish gets restless when the lights go out, turn off the room overhead light an hour before your tank lights. This should give the fish eyes an hour to adjust to the lower light setting before complete darkness. As I stated in the paragraph above, most tropical aquarium fish only need a maximum of 12 hours of light a day, followed by a period of darkness.

Preferably, this should follow the daily light cycle. As such, most of your fishes may probably not need light at night unless they are nocturnal bottom-dwelling fish or inverts like snails that prefer to feed at night.

For purposes of your aquarium aesthetics, you can use moonlight aquarium bulbs to illuminate your tank at night. The calm lighting will accentuate your aquarium but still allow your finny friends to get some sleep. Most people will remember to feed their fish when leaving for vacation but fewer remember to schedule their aquarium lights for when they are away. While some aquarists are not even sure whether to leave the lights on or off while they have a good time away from home.

If anything, leaving the lights on could be a fire hazard and will encourage algae growth. But if you have plants in your aquarium, then you will need to leave the lights on with a timer recommended running a diurnal setting.

Alternatively, if your aquarium room is properly illuminated, leave the tank near a window to take advantage of the natural day-night cycle. This is especially true for smaller aquariums where the possible increase in temperature can be significant. Generally, metal halides and incadescent bulb produce a lot of heat and are therefore not the best for aquariums.

Besides, incadescent technology is pretty much outdated. The more obvious and appropriate light source would, therefore, be either LED or fluorescent, but given the two, LEDs are the harder hitter.

A thing to note if you choose to go with fluorescent; T5 or T8 fluorescent lights are not synonymous with VHO-fluorescent, which like metal halides, will spike your aquarium water temperature. Also, T5 bulbs are preferable as opposed to T8 and T12 because of their skinny bulbs, narrow footprint, availability, efficiency, and low heat output. Each aquarium environment is different, thus the only sure way to know how long to keep aquarium light on is trying out different setting until you find the perfect fit.

Even so, consider variables like natural and ambient lighting since every home is inherently unique. First, think of your plants before the fish since fish tanks are less fussy about lighting.

If anything, lighting a fish tanks is mostly for your own amusement. Then do a little due diligence before buying or replacing aquarium grow lights, compare different products in the market to make sure you get the best bargain.