how long should i leave my light on in my aquarium?

Question

i have real plants in there

i have neon tetras 2 catfish,2 angel fish giant gourami,6 sailfin mollies ,guppies

and a few others about 30 fish altogether

the tank is 4ft long

Answer 1

Not only is a light needed for viewing your fish, but it is essential for your live plants. In most cases, you will need a flourescent tube made specifically for fish tanks, and a control box. Adding a reflector in the lid of the tank will dramatically increase the amount of light that enters the tank.

Lights should be left on for about 10 hours a day if your tank does not gets natural light, or 7-8 hrs a day apart from natural light. Underwater plants need 2 light cycle (4+4 hrs) to complete one round of photosynthesis and release enough oxygen.

Answer 2

For live plants it should be 10-12 hours daily. I would invest in a timer so the times are consistent. I am concerned though about you keeping neon tetras and angelfish together as neon tetras are part of the angelfishes natural diet.

Answer 3

8 to 12 hours

Answer 4

you can have the light on all day it wont harm them (aquatic stores do). but the heat from the light and the light itself will cause more algae to grow and food etc to rott more frequently causinfg the tank to smell more and get dirty quicker, this can cause the fish to become ill its best to just have it on when you are wanting to watch them in the evening or whatever.

Answer 5

8 to 12 hours
If your tank starts growing too much algae, cut the time back.

Answer 6

12 hours. In the tropics, day and night are 12 hours all year long.
Just curious, how large is the tank with all those fish???

Answer 7

I do not know the kinds of fish, so I cannot answer your question. Google or yahoo the question. Sorry. Thanks for asking though.

Answer 8

when there not sleeping? when you wake up get ready and then turn on the light and turn it off when you go to sleep

Answer 9

It's simple really. Turn them off when you go to bed, on when you get up.