Lighting Hours

[Russ84]

hello. how long do you guys keep your lights on for. i heard 8-10 hours is good. but do you have you lights on from say 7am in the morning to 3pm giving you 8 hours or do you have them on at night so you can see your tank. the thing i am confused with is that if you have your lights on for 8 hours a day say from 2pm-9pm wouldnt the day light effect the amount of time the plants and tank is getting light. practically your tank would have light from 7am till 9 pm causing alot of algae etc

thanks
Russ

 

[frasertheking]

i think its between 8-10 hours as htats as much usable time plants have so anything longer encourages algae. but been i while since i was planted so no sure .

 

[WyldFya]

8-12 hours is fine. Planted tanks should not be in direct sunlight, otherwise, you will have algae. Because of this, the sun itself should not have any effect on what time you choose.

 

[Jason S 6]

When i get in from school i turn it on, which is 3pm and then i turn it off at night which is then 11pm

 

[Chuckeff]

My timer turns on the lights at 10am and go off at 8pm. When I used to keep my lights on longer, I would have algae problems. But, if you have low lights, you could probably leave them on 12 hours.

 

[itzacraze]

let the plants do the talking... some plants do well between 8-10 others need 12 its the setting and balance of everything that make them grow... u will tell when u have the right balance start with 10 hours