Does anyone know if u have to have a bubble thing and a light in your fish tank?

Question

i want to get fish, but i hate having the light on at night it keeps me up for i want the tank in my room, also i havn't boughten a bubbler thing, and i want to know if i absouluty HAVE to get it

Answer 1

A light is good for the fish to let them know what time of day it is, you should always turn it off at night anyway so they can sleep too. Since they have no eye lids it would be like you trying to sleep while looking at a light bulb.

An air pump isn't necessary, it makes the tank look better but it doesn't really add oxygen to the water. Oxygen comes in from the surface that is why a good filter is all you need for that.

Answer 2

It is difficult to trouble shoot your problems w/o more info, such as how long the tank has been operating, the type of filter, pH level and other tank chemistry. But, though 69F is a bit cold for tropical fish it should not kill them. If you don't have a heater in your tank, your temps may have fallen lower during the night. A tank heater is necessary for tropical fish as they need water at about 72-78F. The light on the tank is not necessary except to better view your fish. Did you also check the nitrate/nitrite levels. Sometimes fish just die. The bubbles were likely caused by oils from the dead fish. And, no, bubbles that stay is not a good thing. The bubbles from the air stone should pop rather quickly.

Answer 3

you do not need the bubbler if you have a good filter that lets the water cascade into the aquarium. May people believe that bubblers add oxygen to the water, but actually it adds very little oxygen to the water, mostly it just stirs the surface area giving more SA and more oxygen availiable at the surface, not through the whole water. Also, fish like a night/day cycle so it is good to keep the light on about 10 hours during the day and keep it off at night.

Answer 4

A light is not necessary (unless you are talking about having live plants in with your fish). Even then - you can just leave the light on for up to 12 hours (and just do that during the time when you are either not there, or have it on a time to go off just before you hit the sack.

As for O2 - that is very necessary, but if you have a good filter (like a Biowheel - Emperor or Penguin) then additional air will most likely not be necessary. O2 really just depends on the temperature of the tank. The high the temp - the more O2 is necessary.

Answer 5

as for the light, most tank lights come with a switch and fish can see pretty well at night, so you can just turn the light off at night. as for the bubbler, they just help the fish to breathe better and live longer, and help the tank to not look so dirty as fast. i would recommend getting a light and a bubbler, but for the bubbler make sure it's a quiet one (they usually say on the box if they're quiet).

Answer 6

You don't have to have the lights on all day and night. So there is really no problem if you want it in your room because you could simply turn it off everynight. Besides, they need to sleep too!

You may or may not buy the bubbler as long as your filter makes the water flow so that the oxygen on the surface is replaced. However, i suggest that you buy one because it helps increase the oxygen level in your tank and its looks nice especially when you turn the lights on.

Answer 7

Neither a bubbler or a light is absolutely necessary, but you will need a circulating unit to filter the water and keep it moving around the tank. If you have tropical fish, a heater is also a must to keep the water at a constant temperature.

Answer 8

I've seen lots of fish live without either, but I'll respectfully disagree with the answers I've read so far.

The bubbly thing puts air into the water. Although fish live in water, they do require air in their bodies just like us. Air is naturally present in water, but it can be depleted. Having a tank that is wider than it is tall helps, as does not over-stocking. You can (seriously!) use a straw to blow bubbles into the water, accomplishing the same thing. Anyone with an aerator will likely tell you they've witnessed the fish tending to stay closer to the aerator at least part of the time, likely because it is a source of fresh air. Like opening a window on a nice, breezy day.

As for lights, fish are in large part sensitive to light. Meaning, they recognize daytime and nighttime. I have a light for my fish, which I have on a timer, bought at Wal-Mart very cheaply. It's set to turn on about 30 minutes before I get up, and it goes off about 30 minutes before my bedtime. My fish sleep when I do. I've gotten out of bed during the night to witness them softly floating in the water, obviously resting and oblivious to my movements. But when the light comes on in the morning.... whoa! it's feeding time! So I recommend you get a light, turn it off and on at the same time each day, and enjoy the fish.

Answer 9

You will need a "bubble thing" as this is generally called a filter and the purpose of a filter is to oxygenate the water. The type of fish you want will determine wether you need a light.

Answer 10

by bubble thing do you mean filter? if you do no but you have to clean the tank more often. And if you have a light, just turn it off at night, my fish seem to like it better with no light!!!