How long should aquarium lights be on?

How long should I keep my aquarium lights on? To provide animals and plants the lighting they need, 10 to 12 hours a day is sufficient. Installing a timer or purchasing a unit with integrated timing can make lighting easier––just set it and forget it. Keep in mind algae loves light as well.
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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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When should I turn my aquarium light off?

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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How many hours should the lights be on in a planted aquarium?

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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How much is too much light for an aquarium?

Most people turn on their aquarium lights between 8 to 10 hours per day. The duration can vary depending on the brightness of your light, the needs of the specific plant and the ambient light in the room. Too much light can cause excessive algae growth.
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How long should Aquarium lights be on?



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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Do fish like light in their tank?

While fish do need light, which can be sunlight, fish in your aquarium do not need direct sunlight. Placing your aquarium in direct sunlight is something you want to avoid for good reasons. Direct sunlight is so strong and contains a lot of energy, which will be harnessed by algae to grow like crazy.
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Do fish need total darkness at night?

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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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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Do fish like LED lights?

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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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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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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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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What Colour light is best for aquarium plants?

Colors of Light for Healthy Growth of Aquatic Plants

Red and blue lights are used in photosynthesis of plants. Red light is attenuated rapidly in water while blue light has better penetration in water.
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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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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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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 I leave my aquarium for 2 weeks?

Healthy adult fish can go for a week or two without feeding. However, young fish don't have the fat stores of adult fish and they cannot go without eating very long. That doesn't mean you should routinely skip feedings, but your fish can safely be left without food over a long holiday weekend.
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Can fish tank lights be too bright?

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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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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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. Some LED lights also have adjustable light options to dim or brighten the light according to your fish's needs.
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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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Should I keep the filter on in my fish tank?

It is not a good idea to turn off your aquarium filter every night. The filter plays a key role in the health of your tank, and shutting it down for hours at a time can eventually lead to problems.
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How bright should aquarium lights be?

Most freshwater aquarium lights are rated between 5,500 and 8,000 Kelvin. Intensity and spectrum are less important in aquariums or with artificial plants, although some lights enhance natural colors better than others. A light that's too intense may promote algae, especially in non-planted tanks.
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What color makes fish happy?

White lights work best for blue-colored fish. They're also the commonly chosen color of lights and are available for all sorts of lighting options, as we will discuss below. However, some fish owners will say that white lights don't work as effectively in keeping your plants healthy.
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