Lighting - Help?

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SCGeordie

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 2, 2010
340
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Simpsonville, SC
OK, got a new Marineland 46 Bow Front, set it up 2 weeks ago, moderately planted.
I'm using the canopy light that cam with the tank but it seems the fish don't appreciate Marineland's choice - has a 'Natural Daylight' F30T8/36" flourescent. Whenever the light is on the fish do their best to stay as far away from the light as possible, Pictus and Rainbow shark hide out in a hollow log, Angel hangs out behind the heater, neon tera's, Serpae Tetra's and Danio stay under/in the shade of plants and rocks.
I know in the wild fish are going to try and stay out of the way of potential threats/predators, but everywhere I look I see nice lighted tanks with fish swimming around happily 'in plain sight'. Soon as I turn the light off (room light only) they all come out and take up their respective 'positions' (bottom/middle/top).
Anyone suggest a better light/tube I should use that the fish may 'appreciate? more (and be good for the plants)?
 
How long are the lights on for? Maybe it's just way too bright. You really don't need them on for hours upon hours at a time. The fish could care less as you have seen, it's soley for our enjoyment. Hopefully someone can recommend a better bulb, most of mine are just Walmart "fish" bulbs. I could care less what light they get since it's not always on alot.
 
the key words I'm seeing here are 2 weeks ago... do you have your lights on a regular schedule or no? I have a timer on my planted tank for the plants well-being. the fish are also use to the schedule and have no problems once they got use to the timing. i'm pretty sure it's a 10k bulb which should be fine for the plants.. and for the fish. a 36" t8 in a 46 is a low light set-up. the lighting itself isn't to intense for your fish. but you also have some nocturnal species.. the hugging of hideing spots more then anything suggests to me they're not comfortable yet in your tank. and this behavior is normal.
 
Not to hijack but I have the same issue in my 15 with my breeding pair of cons (2") they hide any time I turn the lights on and come back out when they're off... Pectoral fins flapping fast when the light is on and slow and unstressed when off... Thoughts? Standard hood and light on the 15 and even dimmed it with silk leaves between the light n glass
 
BellycrawlerJaws;4607713; said:
Not to hijack but I have the same issue in my 15 with my breeding pair of cons (2") they hide any time I turn the lights on and come back out when they're off... Pectoral fins flapping fast when the light is on and slow and unstressed when off... Thoughts? Standard hood and light on the 15 and even dimmed it with silk leaves between the light n glass
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How long have they been in the tank? Is there alot of people going around the tank? Also they are breeding, they are going hide their fry. Do they have fry?
 
This will be their second batch, they will be free swimming tomorrow. they hid before they paired and have since the same way... Been in the tank 3 weeks ish
 
BellycrawlerJaws;4607846; said:
This will be their second batch, they will be free swimming tomorrow. they hid before they paired and have since the same way... Been in the tank 3 weeks ish
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If they always hid before then that's just how they are. How long do you keep the lights on for? How much are they hiding. It's normal for fish to hide, if they stay covered in the same spot always then I would say that's a problem, but otherwise it's normal for them to hide a bit.
 
BellycrawlerJaws;4608379; said:
The lights were on an 8 hour timer, and as soon as the lights come on they freak and dart to the closest cover where they breathe heavily
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That's why they hate the light and hide every time. Think about it, do you like when you wake up at night from a dead sleep and walk to the bathroom and turn the lights on? No it sucks, you feel like your blind for a few seconds, and even irratated. For the fish though, they hide.

What time does it turn on? To combat this, turn the light the fish tank is in on first for half an hour or so so then turn the fish lights on. Is the room dark until pretty much the timer kicks on, this bright light out of nowhere is easily scaring them. They may think it will hurt the fry and just hiding from it since it scares them that much. Hopefully this works.
 
The lights come on around 1145 am and there are windows facing the tank so theres lots of natural light, but I'll try the suggestion of turning the lights on too, I'm just wary that maybe they'll freak too much and harm the fry :(
 
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