Here_fishy_fishy

i have a 10 gal. and i keep it right by my bed as my night light kinda and i want the light on all the time but my boyfriend says the algea will build up and since i have a small tank i cant get a pleco.. so wut can i do if algea builds up?... i want the light on

Tavel

you can get a small algae eating fish like an otto, which only gets to 1.5" i think.

You could also do more frequent water changes to cut off the algae's nutrients.

But the best thing to cut down algae is simply turning off or dimming the lights. I have some dark plexi glass under my lights. It keeps the tank dim so the fish are more comfortable and the algae can't grow. (I get a lot of diatoms though, "brown algae".)

Here_fishy_fishy

thanks for ur info i thought about getting a small aglae eater but i am worried i cant fit one in my tank so i am not sure wut to do yet

Tavel

You're right, it's probably over-stocked as it is. Just get dimmer lights...I'm guessing you've got 2 40watt bulbs now...maybe get some 20 watts or even smaller.

I use the tinted plexiglass because I have fluorescents. But that would be a bad idea with incandescent...hot melty plastic. yum.

miker

Algae problem aside, you have to turn-off the lights for atleast 10 hours for a healthier fish (and plants).

Here_fishy_fishy

really why? having the light on can harm my fishy?!

AggieYen

Hi there,

Fish do not have eyelids, so they can't close their eyes - the same way we need day and night, fish need night-time too, to sleep. They do get stressed when the light is on all the time. My lights are on a timer - they go on at 4pm, and go off at 10pm - that means they're only on 6 hours a day, and that way I'm home from work to enjoy them with the light on. Most of us recommend only having the lights on for 6-8 hours, maximum.

capekate

Aggie Yen is right..
they do need their sleep and lights should not be on all night long. I would suggest a night light near your bed...

~ kate

Tavel

I talked to her over IM last night, and we covered that...I somehow didn't realize she meant to keep the light on 24-7, haha.