Light Timer Settings - Question - Aquarium Advice

Fishy289 · 08-19-2004, 10:35 PM

Hi guys,

I just have a quick question...maybe someone can help me?

I used to work in the "fish department" years ago, and I vaguely remember hearing that fish would do best with a timer that turned the light on and off in two hour increments. Is there any truth to that?

I have a timer here all ready to set up; I'm just curious as to what the ideal setting would be. I have some live plants in the tank (fern, sword, bannana) and some tetras, dwarf gourami's, and the classic zebra danio.

I'm hoping to acquire more plants as time goes by.

Any ideas?

Thanks a lot!

djlen3 · 08-20-2004, 12:14 AM

My timers are set to go on at 9:45am, and off at 9:45pm.
I have very heavily planted tanks and like the 12 hr. photo-period.

Len

malkore · 08-20-2004, 12:41 PM

the reason the fish dept. had light timers on 2 hour intervals was to control algae growth. algae is very light sensitive, adn without an extended lights-on period, it can't grow.

Bearfan · 08-20-2004, 02:58 PM

They also figure on plants only being there short term, so the stunted light period wouldn't harm them.

Go full cycles. I also do 12 hours.

Fishy289 · 08-20-2004, 08:10 PM

Thanks folks.

I've gone with the 12-hr.

08-19-2004, 10:35 PM	#1
Fishy289 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 8	Light Timer Settings - Question Hi guys, I just have a quick question...maybe someone can help me? I used to work in the "fish department" years ago, and I vaguely remember hearing that fish would do best with a timer that turned the light on and off in two hour increments. Is there any truth to that? I have a timer here all ready to set up; I'm just curious as to what the ideal setting would be. I have some live plants in the tank (fern, sword, bannana) and some tetras, dwarf gourami's, and the classic zebra danio. I'm hoping to acquire more plants as time goes by. Any ideas? Thanks a lot!

08-20-2004, 12:14 AM	#2
djlen3 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Somerdale, New Jersey USA Posts: 82	My timers are set to go on at 9:45am, and off at 9:45pm. I have very heavily planted tanks and like the 12 hr. photo-period. Len __________________ HAVE DISCS - WILL TRAVEL 'Life Is Difficult' - M. Scott Peck The Road Less Traveled

08-20-2004, 12:41 PM	#3
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	the reason the fish dept. had light timers on 2 hour intervals was to control algae growth. algae is very light sensitive, adn without an extended lights-on period, it can't grow. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

08-20-2004, 02:58 PM	#4
Bearfan Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marquette, MI Posts: 3,554 Images: 45	They also figure on plants only being there short term, so the stunted light period wouldn't harm them. Go full cycles. I also do 12 hours. __________________ 75 gal w/ 75 gal sump, 25 gal fuge with Chaeto and 25 gal frag - 4x65 PC w/ Moonlite on the main tank, 2x20W PC on the fuge, 4x20W PC on the frag 72 Gal Bowfront Planted w/ 2x65 PC and 40W T8

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08-20-2004, 08:10 PM	#5
Fishy289 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 8	Thanks folks. I've gone with the 12-hr.

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