How high should my aquarium lights be?

Do your best to completely darken the room where the aquarium is located, except for the aquarium lighting. Raise the light well above the aquarium, perhaps as much as 24 inches. Pay attention to the “edge” of the light on the floor. It should be fairly obvious with most lights, due to reflector or optic performance.
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How close should the light be on an aquarium?

The next best thing is to suspend the light about as far above the tank as the height of the tank. This makes the variation in light intensity from top to bottom be less than 4 to 1.
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What is considered high light for aquarium plants?

Roughly speaking, cool colours are rated over 5000k, and warmer colours are rating below. Daylight is 6500K, which is what many prefer for the planted aquarium. Plants are not overly fussed about the colour of your light in order to grow.
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Can lights be too bright for fish?

Again, depending on the kind of fish you have, you'll want to think about color temperature. But in general, the lighting shouldn't be too bright for a regular tank since it could stress the fish. Too-bright lighting can also lead to algae growth.
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Do aquarium lights stress fish?

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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Should Aquarium Lights Always Be On? How Long? (All Doubts Solved!)



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 much LED light do aquarium plants need?

For plants that require low light, 0.25 watts per liter of aquarium water is likely sufficient. For medium lighting plants, 0.50 WPL is good and for plants that require high light, 0.80 WPL or more will work great.
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Are LED aquarium lights good for plants?

Yes, aquarium plants will definitely grow under LED as long as the light emits in the right spectrum. Regular white LEDs are great and will allow your plants to thrive.
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How long should planted aquarium lights be on?

In a planted tank, the lights should be on between 8 to 10 hours. Too long will give algae the chance to start growing, so never turn your lights on for longer than 12 hours per day. In a new tank, start with 8 hours per day and adjust as necessary. However, different plants have different requirements.
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Do LED lights hurt fish eyes?

How Lighting Affects 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 LED aquarium lights cause algae?

Contrary to what you may have been told, LED lights do not cause algae growth any more than other aquarium lighting options.
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Which Colour light is best for aquarium?

Red, blue and green LEDs are in popular use for standard aquarium lighting since these light temperatures greatly enhance the colors of the objects inside the aquarium. The colors of aquatic plants appear much more rich and vibrant, red fish, shrimp and of course red-leaved stem plants look much flashier.
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Can I leave my aquarium light on 24 7?

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.
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Should I turn my fish tank light off at night?

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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Will aquarium plants grow under blue LED lights?

Plants use a specific kind of blue light called Actinic Blue for vegetative growth. Vegetative growth is the growth of the plant leaves and stems. Growing plants entirely under Actinic Blue light will make them grow very bushy and leafy.
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Is an aquarium light the same as a grow light?

Different Types of Grow Lights

Aquarium lights and grow lights are two types of lighting used to grow plants. Aquarium light is a low-intensity light used to illuminate the aquarium, while grow lights are high-intensity lamps that provide artificial sunlight for plants.
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Will 5000k LED grow aquarium plants?

Short answer, yes! Long answer, it depends. As long as the LED's emit the necessary spectrum's of light that your aquatic plants need, they'll grow just fine. It's one the most vital things you're going to purchase for your tank so you have to make the right choice.
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What does green light in fish tank do?

An excess of green light within your aquarium is one of the most common causes of nuisance algae development, and can quickly lead to a murky, visually unappealing tank.
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Do fish need full dark sleep?

Fish don't necessarily need complete darkness to sleep, but it's best to provide them with the amount of darkness they would have in their natural environment. They may sleep when tired if the lights are on, but it will be better for their sleep and overall health if they can rest in darkness.
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What is the blue aquarium light for?

Blue light is frequently used in aquariums to mark the days and nights out for the fish or for fishkeepers to get a clear view of their tank. Blue light is harmful to fish if it is incorrectly used. However, most fishkeepers use blue lighting in their tanks with no ill effects.
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Why do my fish hide when I turn the light on?

Well, that's exactly how your fish feel each time you suddenly turn on the light. Drastic changes in light levels can startle pretty much everyone, including the fish. Hiding is their defensive reflex triggered by switching from dark to light too suddenly. If you leave the light on, the fish will come out eventually.
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How many hours of darkness do fish need?

Fish Lighting Requirements

Before determining how much light to give your fish each day, check the care requirements for your individual species, as needs vary slightly. However, most fish require around 12 hours of light a day.
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Why do fish swim towards light?

Another suggestion to explain why fish are attracted to lights at night could be that they have evolved to prey on naturally bioluminescent organisms, which give off light at night as well.
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