Having issues with the lighting for my jd tank

[CichlidluV]

I have two 8000k t8 on my 55 gallon and every time the lights goes on they hide in the driftwood as well for all the other except my firemouth. What can I do to prevent this from happening I do not want a dark tank all the time. They come out once the lights go out. I have tried on putting them for short periods of time and still no success. Any suggestions would be great thank you!


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[Gruff Master]

JDs can be skittish no matter what you do sometimes. If you don't have enough hiding spots for them, they will be more reluctant to come out when you are around or when the lights are on. Try adding a group of large Tetras to the tank. Seeing schooling fish swimming in the open may draw out the JDs. You could also add more cover in the form of caves or fake plants. They will break up the bright light and make it more comfortable for the JDs. The large piece of driftwood in your tank probably provides the most cover and security for the fish and that's why they seek it out. If you have juvenile fish, their behavior may change overtime anyway.

 

[Judge Holden]

About 90% of my bulbs are wrapped in foil. Tank still looks good (see vid in signature). Without the foil my tank looks like Madison Square Garden during a Rush concert. Cichlids just don't need that much light.

 

[CichlidluV]

Thanks guys I do have two pieces that I combined as one center piece


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[Andrewtfw]

My dempseys hide when the light is on too (t5ho). I added silver dollars as dithers but it made no difference. I leave the light off. They seem more comfortable and have spawned.

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[joe jaskot]

Add some floating plants to the tank. They will help diffuse the lighting.

 

[Allan01230]

I use a light off a ten gallon tank for my 50 breeder and this works perfectly. It leaves dark spots in the tank and I can see my fish just fine.Incidently I have a trio of gymnogeophagus and a shoal of areulius barbs in there. I have two large peices of bogwood in center of the tank and plastic learge heavy weighted plants on the side. When the lights go on the fish actually just go about their buissiness. When I kept the light that went to the tank it was so bright they just hid when it was on. The barbs could care less how bright the tank was though.