Do fish need lights off at night?

Aquarium fish do not need light and it is best that you turn it off during the night. Leaving the light on can cause stress to fish as they need a period of darkness to sleep. Too much light will cause algae to rapidly grow and make your tank look dirty. So the short answer is no, do not leave your lights on.
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Is it okay to leave fish in the dark?

Fish do not need light at night. A period of darkness is necessary for the fish to sleep. Also, leaving the lights on all night could cause algae to rapidly grow and take over your aquarium. That for sure is an unwanted and ugly looking result.
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Can I leave my aquarium light on 24 7?

You should never keep your aquarium lights on for 24/7. There are are several reasons you should not do so but the most important is it will cause algae growth in your tank. And you can spend literally weeks if not months to clean out algae from your aquarium. Besides, just as we do fish also require darkness to sleep.
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Can fish be in complete darkness at night?

No. Fish do not have eyes that are capable of seeing in the dark. However, fish have what are called photoreceptors. These are the cells that sense light from their environment.
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Are LED lights good for fish?

Fish are not as reliant on light as plants. In general, aquarium owners can use incandescent, fluorescent, or LED lights for fish but should be aware of the heat issues that incandescent lights cause.
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Do Aquarium Fish Need Light At Night (Probably Not What You Think)



Do I leave my fish tank filter on at night?

So you shouldn't turn off the aquarium filter at night.

An aquarium filter removes dirt, debris, and grime like uneaten food, dead plants and waste from the aquarium water. Besides that, your aquarium filter plays a huge role in helping bacteria to convert toxic chemicals into chemicals that are safe for the fish.
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Can fish sleep with lights on?

The short answer is No – you SHOULD NOT leave the aquarium light on overnight. Fish require both light and darkness to survive. Like most other animals, fish need darkness to rest. The fact that they lack eyelids makes them require a sufficiently dark environment for them to get in any kind of sleep or rest.
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Can I feed my fish with the lights off?

Yes, you can definitely feed before lights come on, IF the fish are awake and active. Otherwise, the food will go to waste AND cause pollution problems in your tank.
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How many hours of darkness do fish need?

How Many Hours of Darkness Do Fish Need? Most tropical aquariums require at least 12 hours of darkness every day, whereas cold-water aquariums require more, meaning you should only illuminate fish tanks for 8–12 hours each day. Fish living in aquariums require 12-16 hours of darkness every day.
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Do fish like blue light at night?

No, you should not keep a blue light or any other colored light on in your fish tank through the night. Unless you have nocturnal fish, they depend on light cycles to maintain their sleep cycle. Leaving a light on at night will disturb this cycle and result in sleep-deprived and stressed fish.
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How many hours of light do fish need?

In general, most aquariums require eight to 12 hours of light each day (10 hours is a good starting point), provided by aquarium lights.
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How can you tell when fish are sleeping?

It's pretty easy to tell when fish are sleeping: they lie motionless, often at the bottom or near the surface of the water. They are slow to respond to things going on around them, or may not respond at all (see some sleeping catfish here). If you watch their gills, you'll notice they're breathing very slowly.
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Can fish in an aquarium see you?

A new study says, Yes, it probably can. Researchers studying archerfish found the fish can tell a familiar human face from dozens of new faces with surprising accuracy. This is a big, big deal. It's the first time fish have demonstrated this ability.
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When I go on vacation should I leave my fish tank light on or off?

If you do not have the aquarium light on a timer, now is the time to get one. This will enable you to control the amount of light the aquarium gets and also help control algae growth in the aquarium while you are away.
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What do fish do in the dark?

Fish living in the deep sea manage to navigate in complete darkness. It's not strictly 'seeing' but fish have rows of pressure-sensitive organs running down each side of their body called the lateral line, which allows them to sense nearby animals from the pressure changes in the water.
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Why are my fish swimming at the top of the tank?

Usually, your fish goes to the top when he's not getting enough oxygen. Unlike you, he uses his gills to breathe the air that's already in the water. However, in some circumstances, there's not enough oxygen in the tank for all of the fish to breathe easily.
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Can I cover my fish tank with a towel at night?

During winter, you should insulate your tank and all filtration by wrapping them in blankets, towels or cardboard. 1 Don't forget to cover the top of your tank, but make sure you do not cut off the oxygen supply. Resist the urge to frequently check your fish.
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Is it OK to have a fish tank in your bedroom?

Fish tend to react to their surroundings and disturbances, such as loud noises, can startle them and severely affect their health. That being said, if your room has a quiet corner, you can totally keep an aquarium in your bedroom! A bedroom is usually the quietest part of the house, with not much activity going on.
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Does fish tank need air pump all time?

While air pumps are not always necessary, there are very few circumstances where they would not be beneficial to a tank. Some species of fish, such as bettas, prefer still water, and the presence of an air pump can agitate them. In most cases, however, air pumps benefit fish by allowing them more oxygen to breathe.
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How often should I clean my fish tank?

Depending on how many fish you have, and how messy they are, most tanks require cleaning about once every two weeks. Cleaning should involve: ✔ Siphoning the gravel to remove any debris and uneaten food, and changing about 10-15% of the water. ✔ Check the filter is working correctly.
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Do fish like being petted?

Groupers are not the only fish that enjoy being petted, it seems. According to videos on YouTube, other species of fish that appear to like the interaction include koi, cichlid and discus fish.
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How do I play with my pet fish?

To stimulate your fish's brain, give it toys like floating rocks and caves for it to hide in. You can even train your fish to do tricks like swim through a hoop or jump out of the water with a little practice. Keeping your fish healthy and active will help you enjoy your fish for longer.
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Do fish get attached to their owners?

Surprisingly, science has found that fish are capable of recognizing their owner's face, even if the owner is standing by the tank with other people. Fish can develop an association between something they like, being fed, with the person who feeds them.
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What do fish do all day in a tank?

That might involve scavenging around the tank bottom for scraps of food, eating whatever flakes or pellets you scatter on the water surface, or grazing on the colonies of algae that grow on tank surfaces. Depending on the species, foraging for food can take up most of the fish's day.
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How many hours does fish sleep?

When Do Fish Sleep? Scientists believe that most fish have regular sleep schedules just like humans and other animals. Most aquarium fish are diurnal, meaning they move about during the day and rest at night. However, some species are nocturnal and prowl at night, spending daylight hours sleeping in a cave or crevice.
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