Debate time! Do fish need lights?

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by NanaReefer, Dec 30, 2011.

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  1. cosmo

    cosmo Giant Squid

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    my short answer

    to exist IN OUR AQUARIUM; no
    to survive IN OUR AQUARIUM; no
    to thrive! hell yeah they need it!
     
    cosmo, Dec 31, 2011
    cosmo, Dec 31, 2011
    #11

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  2. NanoMano

    NanoMano Gigas Clam

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    LOL this thread actually came up because of what I had said in another thread I believe, about my lights not being on for my cichlids very much. might have been better to just ask me why?
     
    NanoMano, Dec 31, 2011
    NanoMano, Dec 31, 2011
    #12
  3. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    While fish are not photosynthetic, as in requiring light for survival, I believe they do have an 'internal clock' that has adapted to the natural day/night cycle and that keeping them in total darkness 24/7 can become very distressful for them the same as with ourselves.

    That said, I have kept FW and SW FO tanks before where I only turned on the light at feeding time. However, the tanks were not in a dark room and were lit plenty bright enough to maintain that cycle even without direct sunlight.
     
    Mr. Bill, Dec 31, 2011
    Mr. Bill, Dec 31, 2011
    #13
  4. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Circadian Rhythm: Your internal clock, animals internal 24 clock.

    Eating times and behaviors are influenced by this, reproduction and development.

    One lighting schedule or type will most likely not meet all inhabitants unless they are collected from the same geographical area under similar environments, like cave dwelling fish or fish collected at deeper depths.

    Alternating lighting for fish would probably be fine but not natural.
     
    Corailline, Dec 31, 2011
    Corailline, Dec 31, 2011
    #14
    1 person likes this.
  5. barbianj

    barbianj Hammer Head Shark

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    "Do our saltwater fishes need light to thrive?"

    Of course, the answer to this question is yes. They can't live in total darkness.

    "Do our saltwater fishes need supplemental light to thrive?" may have been the intended question.

    Consider that most of our aquariums are in our living spaces. Without supplemental lighting, the fish get the same amount of light, and the same light cycles that we do.

    I have not had a light over one of my FO tanks for about four months now. The fish receive natural light through the windows, they can see well, and function normally. They are no better or worse, or a different color than if they had supplemental lighting.

    With normal, ambient room lighting, fish themselves do not need supplemental light over their tanks to thrive.
     
    barbianj, Dec 31, 2011
    barbianj, Dec 31, 2011
    #15
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