Lights for a Quarantine Tank

[Hugh Mann]

Having done some reading on quarantine tanks, many seem to recommend no lights, but nobody really explains why.

I'm curious about this because it seems like it would be a bit of a shock to a fish, going from a tank with no lights to a brightly lit tank.

I'm also asking because my QT is in my basement and recieves very little direct daylight. I've been leaving a dim bulb on during the daytime so it's not pitch black 24/7.

Been thinking about ordering a Coralife clip on, they're pretty cheap and it's only a 20 gallon tank. In the meantime if lighting is suggested, I'll use some lamps with blue and white LEDs, or whatnot.

Thanks.

 

[Crabs McJones]

When I ran qt, I didn't use any lights over the tank, I would just turn on the lights in the room for the ambient light. In my experience it helps with algae growth, I didn't have to wipe the glass off as often. And when transitioning over to the main tank, I tried to either add them with the lights off, or add them after the lights have gone off so the next day they'd come on and ramp up. But I did the same as you, ran QT in my basement.

 

[AcroNem]

I always use lights, others may not. In my opinion it's best to have them on some form of photoperiod before addition.

 

[Hugh Mann]

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When I ran qt, I didn't use any lights over the tank, I would just turn on the lights in the room for the ambient light. In my experience it helps with algae growth, I didn't have to wipe the glass off as often. And when transitioning over to the main tank, I tried to either add them with the lights off, or add them after the lights have gone off so the next day they'd come on and ramp up. But I did the same as you, ran QT in my basement.

Ah, okay. So it's just algae then, keep the tank nice and clean?

My problem is my tank lights can't ramp up or down. Just on or off. I mean, they have manual dimmers on them, but with timers it's just Blue on/off and whites on/off.

I may get a little light then, and if algae starts growing just cut back the light cycle.

 

[ca1ore]

Assuming we’re talking just about a fish QT, pretty much any kind of lights will suffice. Fish need a regular photoperiod.

 

[Qasimja]

my QT is in my garage i just use the light in the garage and turn it on/off in the morning and night

 

[Hugh Mann]

Fish only. I'm not a huge fan of the price and effort required to upkeep corals. For now.