i use 1 36in light over a 6' long tank for my oscars. i dont think they like it lit up too bright. how many hours a day should i keep the light on. currently i run the light for 12 to 14 hrs a day.
lighting for oscars
- Thread starter scottchristian
- Start date
When I had oscars they didnt seem to care about the light. They werent really messy eaters but the bigger one would miss food (he was blind in his right eye.)
you need to think about the water these fish live in while wild. its murky water so would be dark naturally. i dont think the oscars mind a bright light, i just dont think this is an issue. but i will say that 12-14 hrs must take an age to clean the algea in the tank? if you do get a lot of algea growth just put the tank on for about 5 hrs aday and this will help slow it down. if you have a good algea eater then leaving the light on may be feeding it quite well.
my own oscar tanks i only put the light on if im in there, if mates come round or im doing a water change. mostly its off al the time, its not a planted tank
my own oscar tanks i only put the light on if im in there, if mates come round or im doing a water change. mostly its off al the time, its not a planted tank
like i said i only have one light 36in over a 72in tank. the ends stay kinda dark. the oscars always stay where it is lit up the most right in the middle. i clean my tank every 5 days or less religiously. the only place algea seems to be present at all is on the glass directly under the light. i know it is going against the grain, but i have a couple of live plants in there. so far so good . the fish dont mess with them or any of the other plastic plants i have either. isnt this supposed to be unusual...
i turn my light on when i go to work (about 8am) and turn it off when i go to bed(bought 12) my fish dont seem to mind it a bit. algea dosnt grow much at all because i have a high current and change the water on my tanks every 4 days.