Do fish need light??

r.bergonia19 · Jun 27, 2016

So I'm going to the Philippines for a vacation for one month and I'm just wondering if i could just turn off my light for the whole month, or is it gonna kill my fish?? I have 2 snowflake clowns, damsel, neon dottyback.
They have a rheum auto feeder so I won't worry about feeding them. My tank has no corals yet.

Baby Ray · Jun 27, 2016

I am not sure if they need light or not but wouldn't you have to refill the auto feeder? They can't go a whole month without being refilled

DracoKat · Jun 27, 2016

You can put the light on a timer

r.bergonia19 · Jun 27, 2016

Baby Ray said:
I am not sure if they need light or not but wouldn't you have to refill the auto feeder? They can't go a whole month without being refilled

I have a 6 weeks auto feeder by eheim.

r.bergonia19 · Jun 27, 2016

DracoKat said:
You can put the light on a timer

It wouldn't work for me cause I can't find a timer that would work for one month. All the timers I see is only for 24 hours.

Baby Ray · Jun 27, 2016

r.bergonia19 said:
It wouldn't work for me cause I can't find a timer that would work for one month. All the timers I see is only for 24 hours.

What?!

All the timers you set and they run forever. You just set the time it is and what times you want to turn it on and off and it will work fine.

chefjpaul · Jun 27, 2016

r.bergonia19 said:
It wouldn't work for me cause I can't find a timer that would work for one month. All the timers I see is only for 24 hours.

The 24 hours is the length of day.
Not the maximum of the timer.

Baby Ray · Jun 27, 2016

Here is one that would work fine-
https://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-T...d=1467082216&sr=8-2&keywords=timer+for+lights

knukles55 · Jun 27, 2016

Yes... the 24 hour timers cycle everyday forever and unifinity way longer than a month. Have you also figured out a auto top off

redfishbluefish · Jun 27, 2016

I'm automated and my limiting factor is my ATO.....I have about 11 gallons, which at best will last maybe 8 or 9 days.

Baby Ray · Jun 27, 2016

knukles55 said:
Yes... the 24 hour timers cycle everyday forever and unifinity way longer than a month. Have you also figured out a auto top off

That is very important

r.bergonia19 · Jun 27, 2016

Baby Ray said:
What?!
All the timers you set and they run forever. You just set the time it is and what times you want to turn it on and off and it will work fine.

Dam sorry about that. I didn't know that they will work forever. Well I can't buy a timer anymore cause I'm checking in the airport right now.

r.bergonia19 · Jun 27, 2016

r.bergonia19 said:
Dam sorry about that. I didn't know that they will work forever. Well I can't buy a timer anymore cause I'm checking in the airport right now.

That's why I'm asking if all my fish is gonna survive without light for whole month.

r.bergonia19 · Jun 27, 2016

redfishbluefish said:
I'm automated and my limiting factor is my ATO.....I have about 11 gallons, which at best will last maybe 8 or 9 days.

I have an ATO.

jdl513 · Jun 27, 2016

I can't see a display running that long unattended. Hopefully you know someone who can come check in on it.

Will be a long time between water changes so I would feed just enough to maintain.

I would set up the feeder and ato, with oversized temporary reservoir, a couple of days before you leave and let it run as though you are gone. Make sure all is working while you are still around to adjust.

r.bergonia19 · Jun 28, 2016

jdl513 said:
I can't see a display running that long unattended. Hopefully you know someone who can come check in on it.

Will be a long time between water changes so I would feed just enough to maintain.

I would set up the feeder and ato, with oversized temporary reservoir, a couple of days before you leave and let it run as though you are gone. Make sure all is working while you are still around to adjust.

Yes I will. But my question is, is my fish gonna be ok without light for one month?

Lionfish Lair · Jun 28, 2016

One of my tanks doesn't have light over it. I've had many tanks without light over the years. Your fish will be perfectly fine, if there's some natural room light.

mcarroll · Jun 28, 2016

I don't think having the light off for a month would hurt the fish at all. It's not like they will be in pitch black for the whole time, I'm sure it will be daylight and such.

Leaving a tank unattended for a month sounds like an invitation to disaster to me nonetheless.

Good luck!

DracoKat · Jun 28, 2016

Fish should be fine

if you have corals, probably not as fine.

good luck!

PostShawn · Jun 28, 2016

I've heard of auto feeders going bad. I would have set up two feeders with half the amount of distribution each. In case one fails the fish still get some food. I haven't left a tank yet for longer then a week without someone checking in on it so when I do my one auto feeder if it fails I will be back within a week or someone will be there so they wont starve.

In the future you should do test runs of at least a couple days before you leave. Run the auto feeder and things like that while you are still home so you can see if they work properly. In your case I would have turn the light on for a little less each day over a few days so they get used to less/no light. Etc. I guess since you're already gone we'll see what happens in a month. Also if gone for long another safe idea is to get a aquarium service for while you are gone. Not cheap but that's how the hobby works.