Lighting Duration/Requirement (NOT A SETUP QUESTION - CICHLID RELATED)

[4D3]

Hi,

I have a SA/CA Cichlid only tank, no plants etc. I have a 4 foot Quad Tube fluro light, which I can turn on 2 tubes at a time.

The room my tank is in also houses my pet Galah, so the room is lit all day using Energy Saving bulbs in the standard room light hanging from the ceiling, and most days I have the curtains open, unless it is going to be decidedly cold.

I was wondering if i need to actually have the tank light on through the day while I'm at work, or can i use it for viewing only when home? If I don't turn on the Tank fluro will the light from the room be enough for the fish?

Thanks

 

[oneyedfish]

I think ambient light would be fine. I only turn the lights on my 180 on for an hour or 2 at night when I get home from work. It just has ambient light for most of the day. I currently have oscars, peacock bass, a catfish and a male festae in there. All seem to be happy and healthy.


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[4D3]

I think ambient light would be fine. I only turn the lights on my 180 on for an hour or 2 at night when I get home from work. It just has ambient light for most of the day. I currently have oscars, peacock bass, a catfish and a male festae in there. All seem to be happy and healthy.


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Thanks very much for that good to know, electricity it going through the roof at the moment!

Would be interested in other opinions as well

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[virgil2090]

i use a timer for my tank lights,its off during the day,then comes on for 5-11pm.i keep all cichlids.i think you should be fine with daylight or roomlight.i don't think it will affect the fish negatively.the only worry would be if they become spooked by tank lights if they get accustomed to darker surroundings.

 

[bbortko]

Your fish would be happy as clams if you never turned their light on, it is merely fish your viewing pleasure.

 

[David R]

If you've got no plants then the lighting is purely cosmetic and only for your viewing pleasure. I have mine come on around lunch time after the room has gradually lit up with the ambient light and stays on until 9pm. I probably don't need it on so much, but I think it is better to get the fish used to the tank being brightly lit for part of the day, if you only ever turned the lights on when you were looking at it I think they'd freak out and get shy when ever the bright lights came on.

 

[4D3]

If you've got no plants then the lighting is purely cosmetic and only for your viewing pleasure. I have mine come on around lunch time after the room has gradually lit up with the ambient light and stays on until 9pm. I probably don't need it on so much, but I think it is better to get the fish used to the tank being brightly lit for part of the day, if you only ever turned the lights on when you were looking at it I think they'd freak out and get shy when ever the bright lights came on.

so i get home from work at about 5:30, and the ambiant/room lighting goes on at 8am before i leave, so if i had the lights in the tank come on around 5pm they would have about an hour before i get home and keep the light on until 10pm when i go to bed that would be ok?

 

[vinod_uthaiah]

I never use any lights in any of my 3 tanks. Just the natural light is what they get to enjoy...just like in the wild.
I have some peacock bass , red texas , mayan cichlids and green terror and they are all doing fine.

 

[4D3]

I never use any lights in any of my 3 tanks. Just the natural light is what they get to enjoy...just like in the wild.
I have some peacock bass , red texas , mayan cichlids and green terror and they are all doing fine.

Thanx very much to everyone,I can safely leave the lights of through the day and save energy and turn them on at night for viewing.

Thanx again all

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[RampageRR]

Another plus to doing it this way is cutting down on potential algae growth. If you're not home at all during the day, ambient lighting would be perfect.