Author Topic: automatic cycling aquarium lights (Read 16239 times) 3 replies

Mo · « **on:** November 20, 2020, 04:34:54 PM »

Hi,

I'm a new member and am setting up a community tank.

I have an LED lighting system that is cycling automatically over 24 hrs, starting with a low reddish light in the early morning which gets brighter and whiter during the day and reduces to a low bluish light at night. However it never goes completely dark. This is supposed to give a range of light frequencies to help plant growth.

Should I turn it off at night to give the fish a period of total darkness? (I've read in some posts that the fish need this).

Any advice will be greatly appreciate.
Cheers,
Mo

Fishbeard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2020, 08:34:47 PM »

Going by advice given to me recently, I'd say yes.

@Matt is the king of plants around here, but a period of blue light only will encourage algae growth, and I believe plants can only process light for shorter periods (4-5 hours?) so having them under full lights all do doesn't help them to grow any more than the shorter period.

For your energy bill alone, I would suggest reducing it down. Have it come on at a time when you're around to appreciate it, and about 8 hours total lighting should be sufficient for your plants to be happy!

Matt · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2020, 09:02:34 PM »

Lower lighting levels and in particular the ‘nighttime blue’ modes are known to encourage algae. Algae are a simpler life form than plants and so can photosynthesise around lower lighting levels - blue light is also no favoured by plants - I would shorten the ramp up to full lighting to say 15mins and then have an 8 hour lighting period with a similar 15m ramp down at the end ideally

Sue · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2020, 10:15:05 AM »

Quote from: Mo on November 20, 2020, 04:34:54 PM

Should I turn it off at night to give the fish a period of total darkness? (I've read in some posts that the fish need this).

Fish need a period of several hours total darkness in every 24.

There is another aspect to tank lighting as well. The room should be in daylight or the room light should be on for at least half an hour before the tank lights turn on and then in daylight or room light for at least 30 minutes after the tank lights turn off. Even with those lights which turn on very dim and slowly brighten, I would still make sure there has been some sort of light outside the tank when the tank lights turn on and off.

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Automatic Cycling Aquarium Lights

Automatic Cycling Aquarium Lights

Author Topic: automatic cycling aquarium lights (Read 16239 times) 3 replies

Mo

automatic cycling aquarium lights

Fishbeard

Re: automatic cycling aquarium lights

Matt

Re: automatic cycling aquarium lights

Sue

Re: automatic cycling aquarium lights

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