Does your aquarium need artificial light?

[Lesmiz4]

Hello everyone.

I was wondering, right now I have my 30 gallon tank set up with the hood light on from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Is this beneficial to my fish, or should I switch the timer to come on just for when I'm home?

I also have a 5 gallon hex tank in the kitchen with my betta in it, and I don't currently have his light on a timer. His light is usually on from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. when I shut it off.

Opinions?

 

[TKOS]

Are you growing live plants or is this simply a light to see the fish?

Fish do need to have a sense of day and night (well maybe not blind cave tetras). If these lights are simply for viewing the fish and there is plenty of ambiant ligh in your house then it is fine to keep the main tank lights on just in the period you will be viewing the fish.

Depending on where you live, winter time may require more artifcial light for your fish as they won't be getting that external ambiant light.

 

[Lesmiz4]

No live plants, just to see the fish.