can you leave aquarium tanks on all night?

Question

i have two fish tanks, one glodfish and one tropical, my question is can i leave my fish light on all day and night or is it better to turn it off?

Answer 1

Don't leave them on all day and night, this will just cause an unwanted algae growth.
You can buy a cheep light timer at your local hardware store and set it for when you're at home the most (8-12 hours), You will never have to worry about turning them on or off.

Answer 2

The filter needs to run at all times, it's what maintains their little ecosystem. You are trying to mimic their natural environment, and it's a delicate balance. The light should only be used around 10 hours. Think of it as maintaining their natural habitat. The sun is only out part of the time. We don't turn our lights on until late afternoon certain times of the year, the sun is adequate in our home. (no direct sunlight, though.) Their night cycle should be the same as yours, that's the best way. Too much light causes excess algae growth. For that reason, keep your tank away from direct sunlight, and don't place it directly near a window. If your tank is already near a window, keep the blinds or curtains closed, so the natural light will still filter in, but no direct sunlight will. The direct sunlight will also heat your tank a bit more, and since they are goldfish, that could be bad. For care, make sure you are maintaining weekly water changes and gravel vacuums. Goldfish are the "dirtiest" of fish, meaning they release a lot of ammonia with their frequent waste, so the weekly upkeep is a must. Test their water often, as well. You can buy the test kits at your local fish store. I keep a fish journal. I document tank temperatures, water parameters, filter changes, any changes I notice in the tank, etc. It's very helpful, I really recommend doing that. Seems like a lot, but like anything else, when you get into the habit, you don't really think about it. Good luck, have fun, this is a wonderful and rewarding hobby. Hope I've helped!

Answer 3

If you ask 12 different people you'd probably get 12 different answers back on this... I just turn mine on when I'm home (usually at least 4 to 6 hours a day). I used to turn it on when I got up (around 8:00) and off when I went to bed (from 10:00 to 1:00). This was way too much and there was a lot of algae growth. I think the more the lights are off the better. I actually heard that the lights are really just for us (assuming you don't have live plants which I don't).

Answer 4

Turn it off, otherwise you will end up with algae problems. In fact, quite the opposite I turn the lights off on all my tanks except the one with live plants all day and night, except when I'm actually there to view the tank, that way algae isn't a concern. Diurnal fish don't sleep like we do and can actually live with the lights on all the time, but it's just not worth it.
Also, if you have any nocturnal type livestock like catfish it will stress them out to have no night to play in.

Answer 5

Photo Period - How long do you leave the lights on?
How long should the fish tank lights stay on for? We get this question frequently. A good range to aim for would be anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. Remember that fish like and need to rest just like other animals. Fish only setups could range from 6 to 12 hours, reef tank setups and freshwater planted aquariums could range from 10 to 12 hour photo periods. Leaving the lights on for longer time periods could contribute to nuisance algae growth (just one of the factors with algae growth), higher tank temperatures and quicker tank water evaporation. Be consistent and if you can afford it, invest in a light timer.

Answer 6

You need to turn the lights off every night. Constant bright light causes stress to your fish. In fact, your fish don't need a light at all. If you have live plants, that's what the lights are for. Otherwise, leave the lights on as little as possible, and you'll have happier healthier fish.

Answer 7

I would'nt say ALL day and night, fish need rest just like us. It would be more natural if you only switch it on for a MAXIMUM of 6hrs. If you have live plants in there - thats what you need it for! But keep you light for too long and the source of algae would grow faster. Renember fish don't really need lights! The less you turn it on, the more healthier your fish.. The best time would be at night - i turn all the lights off and it looks wonderful!

Hope This Helps. x

Answer 8

It is more natural for the fish to have normal light and dark cycles. Whether it is necessary or not is up to discussion. For my fish,I keep the lights on a timer so they have "days" and "nights". Some of my fish(Plecos,etc.) are nocturnal,and definitely need a period of darkness in which to feed.

Answer 9

yes you can i leave mine on all the time but off at night having the light off helps them to relax and easy for sleeping and if its in your room you will probs turn it off that is what i do =)

Answer 10

mine's turned off every night, but only cause it's in my bedroom and really bright at night.