i am going on holiday and have a tropical fish tank, what do i do about the light?

Question

NOTE: I CANNOT USE A TIMER PLUG BECAUSE MY LIGHT AND FILTER ARE POWERED TOGETHER ON ONE SOCKET, HAVING A FRIEND TURN IT OFF AND ON TWICE A DAY IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE

I CANNOT USE A TIMER PLUG BECAUSE MY LIGHT AND PUMP ARE ON THE SAME PLUG AND CANNOT BE SEPERATELY WIRED, HERE IS A LINK TO MY AQUARIUM, READ THE INFO AND YOU MAY UNDERSTAND MY PROBLEM

http://www.aa-aquarium.com/showroom4.php?id=8&level=2

Answer 1

I hear you loud and clear. If you have the tank in your living room and it has big windows,you can switch the tank lights off and allow day or sunlight to shine in and still keep heater and aerater on.

Answer 2

As your filter should be on constantly and the light only on for 10-12 hours, you shouldn't have them wired together. Seperate them and use a double adapter and a timer plug for the lights. Keeping the lights on all the time can stress the fish and turning the filter on and off causes water quality to fluctuate, which can also stress the fish. While you are away the filter will need to be on so even if you don't buy a timer for the lights you still need to seperate them!

Answer 3

Well first of all there is no need to have the lights and filter wired in together. Wire them in separately, if necessary using one of those multiple socket adaptors which are very cheap to buy. That way you can attach a timer to your lights.

If you really don't want to do that your fish won't mind being in the dark for a week or so and neither will most plants. It might even do a bit of good if you've got an algae problem. Alternatively, they won't mind having the light left on for a week or so (provided it's not too bright)-although that could cause algae problems

Answer 4

Simple, get a timer that allows it to only go on at the times you select.
To the person who said a light is not needed, you obviously don't have a tank! The light needs to be on for 10/11 hours a day, so I set mine for 11am till 9pm, with an automatic feeder if im away. Without the light one, the plants become unhealthy, and they fish become stressed and will attempt to jump out of the water! (specially danios!)

The timer you want is a simple round one, with the 24 hours in a circle that clicks round, and the time selected by putting pins in the wholes. They might do electronic ones now - not sure!

Answer 5

Unless you have live plants you do not need a light, If you do have live plants then you can buy a timer, And set it to come on at a certain time and go off at another time, 8 hours is plent for live plants.

~ GG

Answer 6

Unless you have live plants then leave the light off. The light is, more or less, for you anyhow. The fish could care less if the light is off. Leaving it on all the time, however, might stress them a bit and will definitely cause an algae bloom. Just leave it off and enjoy your holiday.

Answer 7

Our tanks are very heavily planted so we bought a light timers for both tanks when we went on holiday a few years back ,
But silly us forgot to switch them on so our tanks had two weeks without light and surprisingly our live plants were fine

Answer 8

Buy a timer and set it to the regular times you turn it on and off, or ask a friend to come into the house to turn it on and off (you should know then well).

Answer 9

You could leave the light off, they will get sunlight. Or you could buy a timer and set it for on and off. Fish don't really need light, so you are safe either way.

Answer 10

yes you can use a timer, just get an extension court ;)

and set it to 10- 12 hours on during the day and 12-14 hours off at night


Hope that helps
Good luck


EB