How Much Light Is Needed For Freshwater Fish?

Your fish need light so that they can live healthy and in harmony. Do you have any idea how much light is needed for the freshwater fish?

You bought your fish tank, Cycled and now it’s time to put the fish. You turn on the lights and you are dazzled by that world of different colors. So, you ask yourself:

How Long Should My Fish Tank Stay With The Lights On?

It is generally recommended that the fish tank stay about 8 to 12 hours with the light on. This amount can vary depending on the species of fish you have in the fish tank.

Another factor to consider is whether the fish tank has plants, as they have unique characteristics that must also be respected.

During The Night, Should I Turn Off The Lights?

Ideally, the lights should be turned off at night. Just check the needs of the species to be sure of the light amount and the intensity needed for it. Depending on the species you raise, the intense light can harm the fish, and they can start to behave different due to the stress generated by the light, and some signs like lack of appetite, lack of interaction with other fish and even show disease cases may arise.

See Also:

• Garlic In Fish Tanks? What Is The Benefits?

Most people prefer to keep the lights as natural as possible, and base the fish tank lighting on a normal time of day and night. So, for these cases, I advise you to use a timer to automate this process of turning the light on and off.

Your fish will feel much more comfortable in an fish tank where there is this difference between day and night, so pay close attention to the light cycle. Another aggravating factor is that excess light can bring various types of algae and ruin all the flora of your fish tank.

I Own A Planted Fish Tank. Does The Lighting Work Differently?

The answer to that question is quite simple: YES!

All plants need light to perform photosynthesis, so the light intensity can vary according to the species you have in your fish tank. We know that plants facilitate the maintenance of the aquarium due to the fact that they process nitrates, phosphates and ammonia, and also help to keep the good quality fish tank water. It is recommended that you do a lot of research on what species you have and what your specific needs are, because depending on the light amount in the fish tank, you can have serious problems with algae.

And For Fish Tanks That Are Not Planted? What Are The Cares?

The lighting will be different for an unplanted fish tank, as there is no need to pay attention to this part of plant maintenance, waste and light intensity compared to a planted tank.

See Also:

• Artificial Or Natural Plants? What Is The Best Choice?

This is not to say that you can leave the tank lighting in any way without proper supervision. As previously mentioned, there are several types of algae for fish tanks and they can grow in environments with calm waters and even in low light.

Can Algae Affect My Fish?

If algae is not controlled and maintained in acceptable quantities, it can be fatal to fish.

Remember this, algae are not always bad for the tanks. In fact, they can help you understand your aquarium. When they are present, it is a sign that your replacement water may be in trouble. Most likely there are more nitrates than necessary. The problem is that they are able to survive in the same way as plants, with light, water and nitrate. If there is excess light or nitrates, which your plants do not consume, the algae will begin to grow.

There are several types of algae, some can turn your water a greenish color, others start to take care of glass and ornaments and depending on the amount, they can feed on all the extra nitrates in your fish tank and become so aggressive that they start to absorb all the oxygen from the water, killing your fish. This in extreme cases, of course!

How Do I Protect My Fish From Algae?

There are several ways to avoid this problem, such as adding fish that feed on algae, or adding plants to consume nitrates and always maintaining standard maintenance, performing substrate cleaning and Partial Water changes.

It’s true, you can protect your fish with other fish! There are a wide variety of animals that you can choose from, that will consume algae. It is a fantastic way to keep your fish tank water clean and some fish well fed.

See Also:

• How To Remove Cyanobacteria From The Fish Tank?

Make sure that the lighting cycle is appropriate and that it does not exceed the daily time your plants and fish need. If for some reason, your fish tank is infested with algae, an effective way to correct the problem is to cause a blackout. Cover your tank and keep it out of the light until the algae start to subside.

Artificial Light or Sunlight? How Much Light Is Needed For Freshwater Fish?

Artificial light without a doubt is the best choice. It is recommended that your tank is not close to direct sunlight.

Some people still have the idea that leaving the tank close to sunlight will make maintenance easier. This is completely wrong. Aquariums that are exposed to sunlight will have serious algae problems.

With artificial lighting, you will have to be careful, but the reward is well worth it. There are many factors to keep aquarium inhabitants healthy and lighting is one of those factors.

The most important thing to know about lighting is to understand the environment you are creating for your fish. Study the fish species and plants you have, keep the fish tank clean and with a cycle of 8 to 12 hours of light on daily. Remember to use a timer to automate this process, because if you don’t use it, you may end up forgetting about the light on and having problems with algae and increasing the stress of the animals, causing diseases and behavioral changes that can be fatal to your pets.

What did you think of this article? How much light is needed for the freshwater fish? Tell us in the comments!