Hello! I am just curious what the general rule is for how long fish tank lights can/should be turned on? I usually only have mine on from when I get home from work until I go to bed, because I like looking at the fish (obviously), but I leave the light off during the day when I’m gone – although during the weekend it’s on a lot more since I’m home. Should I be using less light? or be more consistent? how important is it?

amazingpetenclosures:

The way I’ve always understood it is that unless you’re tank is in a low/poorly lit area and you’re trying to grow plants, a light really isn’t necessary at all. It’s more for your viewing pleasure. The natural light in a house is enough to create a day/night cycle. So you should be just fine to keep using your light as you are 🙂

If the fish have enough light to see by, they’re fine without. 

I wouldn’t leave the light on 24 hours a day unless there were a lot of dark spots, since fish don’t have eyelids, but minimal light shouldn’t cause them any problems. 

If you want to be certain, you can get a light timer. You plug the timer into the wall and the light into that, set the times on the timer, and it turns the light on/off at those times for you.