Ideal lighting times for fish and plants?

[Water Wiggler]

I'm a night owl. I was wondering if it's okay to set my timer to be on when I'm home from work and doing night owl activities. I live in a half underground apartment, which does get light, but not much. Unless it's really cloudy, I don't have to use lights during the day to see what I'm doing. The fish tank isn't near the window, anyway, so it's getting a little bit of ambient light during the day.

Currently, I have my timer set to turn on at 4 p.m. and shut off at 12. Is that too much light at too weird of a time? I won't have celestial pearl danios for another two weeks (boo hoo). I'm currently trying to grow frogbit and java moss. Once I get the fish, will they be unhappy because their light isn't on during the true daytime and off during the true nighttime?

I also have a 5 gallon tank with a betta fish in it and some java moss. I may transfer some frogbit to that tank, too. I'll get a timer if I do that. The 5 gallon is closer to the window, but it never gets direct sunlight. I never get direct sunlight. Ha, ha!

Thanks for the advice! I don't know what I would do without you guys!

 

[Coursair]

6 hours of light is ideal for most planted tanks. And it should be fine using the timer. Mine are on a split schedule.

Sent from my LG-V410 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Mebbid]

6 to 8 hours is typical and up to 10 hours is okay for a low light tank. With plants, if there's algae growth then chances are the light is being ran a bit too long so just experiment with it.

 

[BBradbury]

Tank Lighting

Hello Wat...

As near as I can tell, fish aren't particular about lighting. As long as you have a relatively normal time period for light and dusk, the fish will be fine.

I keep my lights on a timer set for 12 hours on and 12 off. My plants seem fine with it.

Experiment and see what works best for your tank.

B

 

[Water Wiggler]

6 hours of light is ideal for most planted tanks. And it should be fine using the timer. Mine are on a split schedule.

Sent from my LG-V410 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

Thanks! I have it set for 8 hours because the frogbit I just got was not happy to begin with. It was the only frogbit available. Currently, I've got an empty tank full of nitrates because I have to wait two weeks for a fish order to come it. I have a feeling that my frogbit will do well only with fish in it. Ammonia just isn't the same. We shall see!

 

[Water Wiggler]

6 to 8 hours is typical and up to 10 hours is okay for a low light tank. With plants, if there's algae growth then chances are the light is being ran a bit too long so just experiment with it.

Good to know! No algae, yet, in either tank. My java moss in my 5 gallon betta tank seems to be doing well in my 5 gallon. It's not growing much, but it's a nice green color. I won't be putting shrimp in with the betta fish. I don't want a massacre on my hands! I just put it in there to give the betta a live plant. He likes playing with the strands. Once the java moss grows more, he can have a real party in there!

 

[Water Wiggler]

Hello Wat...

As near as I can tell, fish aren't particular about lighting. As long as you have a relatively normal time period for light and dusk, the fish will be fine.

I keep my lights on a timer set for 12 hours on and 12 off. My plants seem fine with it.

Experiment and see what works best for your tank.

B

Thanks for allowing me to to be a night owl! Sometimes I'm up until 2 a.m., but my light timer is set from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. I was hoping that the ambient light it gets before I go to bed doesn't bother it much. I want to do right by my fish and the few plants that I have!