Normally it is recommened that you leave the light on for the duration of the time that you want to view your fish. The light is for you, not the fish. Excessive light will cause more algae, which means more cleaning...
As long as the fish have plenty of "free swimming" room, your ornaments should be okay... My kids want lots of stuff when we visit the pet store and i've decided to just change stuff out and let them know "what goes in next" (gosh the tacky stuff I have had to add!) BUT... they love fish and are learning ! Best wishes!
2007-01-21 13:33:42
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Is the tank fresh or salt water? If you are using real driftwood, coral, and rocks (other than those rocks sold for aquariums) these can change the pH of the water. The driftwood can lower pH, and if this wood was collected from around your house, it can leach tannins which will make the water brown. At any rate, it will eventually rot in the water. Coral will raise the pH and shouldn't be used in freshwater other than for cichlids. What the rock will do is variable - if it's limestome it can raise pH; some sandstones are acidic; granite and shale may not have any effect (can to identify the type of rock[s] you have in there?). Any of these should be removed unless they are being used to fulfill a specific water quality requirement (you are trying to change pH or hardness of the tank water to meet the conditions to keep the fish alive). Otherwise you're have chemical soup.
If these items are resin/plastic/ceramic replicas, they will be okay in any tank. Fish like places to hide and explore.
As far as lighting, it's not written in stone anywhere that all aquarium lights need to come on at 8:00an and be off by 6:00pm, or anything like that. Generally on for no more than 14 hrs a day. If you don't have live plants, you even can go for 10-12. What time they go on or off is up to you, but should be consistent (or change gradually, like natural day length between summer and winter). Timers are great for this.
2007-01-21 21:38:54
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answer #2
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answered by copperhead 7
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The light period should not start until there is some ambient light. Just banging on the lights from total darkness is not good for the fish,and can actually kill some species. How long you leave it on is a matter of how your viewing time is situated. The fish can do perfectly well with whatever light comes into the room.(But no direct sunlight,it can make the water too hot.) Really aquarium lights are for people more than for fish. One more thing if the tank starts to grow too much algae too much light can be the cause. It's OK to leave the decorations in the tank if they came from a source like a pet store,and are made for aquariums.____PeeTee
2007-01-21 22:33:19
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answer #3
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answered by PeeTee 7
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You are supposed to have it on only during the day or night. Whichever you prefer. I wouldn't worry about the exact hours. Either when you get up or go to bed, turn it on or off. I leave mine on most of the time. It rarely gets shut off. I'm not an expert, but I have had the same fish, that are having babies by the way, for more than 2 years now. So it can't be "bad" to leave it on all the time. Mine is a 55 gallon tank and I have lots of stuff in it too. Your o.k. on that. They have plenty of room with just the 4 of them. I have about 25. But, with the babies, they had like 60 at one time, I put them in another tank. And they are pregnant again! The little boogers! (Well, I don't have big fish. Mine are no longer than 2 inches or so to smaller than that.) Hope this helps. Good luck with the tank and have fun watching them. They are very nice to have.
2007-01-21 21:39:41
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answer #4
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answered by Shari 5
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You only want your light on for 8 hours a day. The best thing to do is to buy a timer and set it. Make sure the light is on during the day and not at night. If it is not a salt water tank take the coral out. Coral is not healthy for fresh water fish.
2007-01-21 21:31:42
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answer #5
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answered by x0xsimplyirresistiblexox 3
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i leave the lights on 2 hrs at feeding -- thats 4 a day. turn it on about 15 mins before you feed. the fish get used to it. the coral if its real coral could be a problem. i would take the driftwood and tie down simple to grow plants on it like java fern or java moss. they will be fine with 4 hrs light. no light or too much like will spawn algae. so if you get algae (brown is not enough -- green is too much light) you know why. make sure the stuff isn't pushed out to the sides and the fish can swim around them.
2007-01-21 22:15:17
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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The stuff is fine - fish like places to hide out. Reccommended time is only five hours a day, but I usually do around 8 with no bad effects. Is your tank in a sunny area? If it is you don't even need the light except for viewing pleasure. Remember in their natural environment they would never have direct sun for 8 plus hours. Those lights are very bright for fish that are used to the deep waters of the tropics.
2007-01-21 21:49:50
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answer #7
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answered by jessica s 2
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Turn your light on in the morning and off at night!Depending on the type of fish you keep coral my not be a good idea. Coral will raise the PH levels in your tank, although this is fine for salt water or Africans, tropical community fish don't like it.
2007-01-21 21:33:25
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answer #8
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answered by kaschpint 2
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I turn my light on when I get up and off when I go to bed
2007-01-21 21:46:26
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answer #9
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answered by im2uncontrolable 2
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from morning to night just like in the wild
2007-01-21 22:07:19
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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