I have live plants in my 10 Gallon tank with goldfish. Is it essential to have a light?

Question

I have 3 fantail goldfish and 2 rather large plants in my tank. I would like to maintain my plants as best as possible. Do I have to get a light for my fish?

Answer 1

The fish don't require a light over their tank (as long as they have enough light in the room to distinguish between day and night), but plants can't survive without one. The plants need to make their food by way of photosynthesis, which is a light-dependent reaction. If you don't provide adequate lighting, the plants will die and foul the water.

If you don't want to provide a light, it may be better to use plastic or silk plants than live ones. Also be aware that goldfish will eat the leaves of some aquatic plants, or they'll uproot them as the search through the gravel for food.

If you want live plants, I would suggest using Java fern, Java moss, or Anubias, as these don't seem to be something most fish care for, and these have lower lighting requirements, so a standard aquarium light will be bright enough for them to grow.

Answer 2

Step 1. Get a much larger tank. A ten gallon is too small for 3 goldfish, no matter what the people at the pet store told you. You need at least a 40 gallon tank with double filtration.

Beyond that, goldfish are also famously hard on plants. They will pick at and eat most things you put in there. If you don't mind replacing them often this is fine, the fish might enjoy it, too!

Some plants do fairly well without supplemental light. Java moss and java ferns usually do well.

Answer 3

If you want your plant to live, you will want to get a fluorescent strip light. The incandescent lights are cheaper, but they don't put out the proper spectrum of light for plant growth, the bulbs burn out constantly, they put out tons of heat, and they don't make your fish look very good. Your goldfish might try to eat the plant. I like to use anubias and java fern because fish don't like the way it tastes.

Answer 4

The plants will be eaten by the goldfish so please remove it and buy plastic plants, but if you love plants and your goldfish buy plants like wisteria, and java fern that your goldfish will won't eat.
By the way, lights are man-made sun and we all know that plants need light to live healthy, so it is very neccessary. As a rule, 2-3watts of light per gallon.

Answer 5

in basic terms feed the goldfish a pinch of fish flakes an afternoon. a pinch meaning 5 - 6 flakes an afternoon thats it. dont positioned the flakes on the right of the tank or bowl becasue the fish will attempt to consume the foodstuff yet he/she will accidently breath in air, that would reason a ailment called air bladder which finally ends up in loss of life. so, in basic terms determine to push the flakes a pair of million/2 way into the water. a 10 gallon tank is so appropriate for the fish ur fish would be chuffed! (: stable success and robust activity rescuing a fish!!!

Answer 6

Do NOT put your tank next to a window! Put it away from direct sunlight but not in a dark spot. You'll have a large amount of algae growing in the tank if you put it next to a window. Having a light over the tank is a great idea!

Answer 7

Without the light, the plants will de-oxygenate the water. With light, this is reversed and will be better for your fish

Answer 8

No, it is not essential, i had gold fish for 3 years, and didn't keep the light on at all, so it is OK to leave it off sometimes.
Good Luck

2N!$H

Answer 9

yes it is essential, atleast 8 hrs a day of lighting

Answer 10

yes, you do, to make them grow. you can put it next to a window.