CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

So I was wondering........Is there a "standard" for fish lighting?  What I mean is the time they are on per day....should I be doing a 12/12 light/dark as I would if I were growing plants or should they be on my "human" schedule?  Is too much light bad?  Any help on this would greatly be appreciated and would make my ignorance a bit less on these awesome fish we so aptly call Oscars! 

The lighting in most fish-only freshwater tanks is purely for your viewing pleasure.  Oscars and most other big cichlids are just as happy in dim light.  They tend to get jumpy if the lights come on while it's dark, so I have mine set on timers so that they come on in the afteroon before it gets dark, so that I can watch them at home without freaking them out by going from dark to light.  Essentially, it's up to you...

cool thanks Dan.....yeah I figured out they get a little jumpy when I was watching TV one night and all the lights were off....my tanks are in my living room where my TV is....and I was watching Tv and both O's got nuts when certain frames flashed.....I thought they didnt like "The Sheild", which is what I was watching......

Everybody's a critic, eh?

DanRad wrote:The lighting in most fish-only freshwater tanks is purely for your viewing pleasure.  Oscars and most other big cichlids are just as happy in dim light.  They tend to get jumpy if the lights come on while it's dark, so I have mine set on timers so that they come on in the afteroon before it gets dark, so that I can watch them at home without freaking them out by going from dark to light.  Essentially, it's up to you...

I have to graciously and humbly disagree a little tiny bit - Many Cichlids, Oscars among them, do not tolerate live plants in aquariums. Some of us leave lights on for predetermined, longer periods of time daily to promote algae growth to help with nitrate. I grow it on rocks and the back wall of the tank. I'm not saying that it's necessary, but a cool tool to help with nitrate. 

No disagreement -- I do much the same.  Necessary though?  Hmmm

DanRad wrote:No disagreement -- I do much the same.  Necessary though?  Hmmm

The last line from my post is . . . . .

I'm not saying that it's necessary, but a cool tool to help with nitrate.

I was also wondering this as well. i have had my lights going probably 10 hrs a day manly because its a darkish room and we like watching them, our allege growth is not excessive i two have a rock and am trying to grow allege on it , but I'm growing it cause i thought it looked cool, I did not realise i was also benefiting buy helping with nitrates. I was thinking also about a timer manly to reduce energy consumption ( Greeny ) and help keep cost down. My question is if i had a 1/2 tank length light on a timer just enough to cover the rock/allege and light 1/2 the tank for good viewing, the other 1/2 would be dimmer. I should see then which side they prefer, cut off a couple a cents/year in energy consumption, save the planet, have good allege that looks good and is beneficial ?? any flaws in my plan   

I have 6 x 30w tubes above my O's tank.  3 cover each half of the tank but I only have 1 come on at one end with 2 at the other end 30 mins later.  My O prefers to spend his time in the end which is most lit with the total for each tube being 9 hours.  I also have Anubias & java fern in this tank & so do need the light to help them along.

whats the reason you alternate bulbs?

It just builds the light bit by bit for them, less light coming on at once.

altaaffe wrote:It just builds the light bit by bit for them, less light coming on at once.

.There's the thought that sudden lightening or darkening of an aquarium frightens aquarium fish, increases stress, and shortens lifespans, especially high-strung types like Dempseys and species that respond more acutely to stress like Oscars.  I agree. I read about it first in a book by Dick Mills, seemed to make a lot of sense. I always turn on the lights in the room, wait a few minutes, then turn on the aquarium lights. Then at night, I shut down the tank's lights 5 or 10 minutes before turning off the room lights.

Have to agree -- my P. pollenis totally freak If lights even come on in the room unexpectedly!

yeah I am paying more attention to the bringing light in gradually for my boys.....they seem to appreciate it more.....but at night they are the last to go off.....they seem to be a little more mellow, if you can call O's mellow

I have the opposite mine docent seem to mind the sudden change to much at all. however day light wakes him before the light comes on, not so at night, its dark and then the light goes out Doesn't seem to mind though. Q. how much light is to much or is their such a thing ?? we have been doing 14 hrs on, have changed my methods a bit now though due to all your ideas