Tank light cycle different than actual day?

[Saltybubbles288]

i work the night shift on call and wake up at 2 everyday, would I be able to run my tank from let's say 2 to 2? Or would the natural daylight which is enough to lights the house albeit dimly cause problems? Maybe make fish tank shades? I just would like my tank to be lit when I can enjoy it. But don't want to stress my future fish.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Light the tank when you will enjoy the tank. The fish will adapt.

 

[Diesel]

Problem is when you're not working and you want to enjoy your tank after 2pm the lights are out.
You can do a early lights on like around 6 or 7 am and leave them for 10 till 12 hours on.
In that case you still can enjoy it when working and when you're not most of the day.
What lights do you run over your tank?

 

[Saltybubbles288]

I'm thinking 2 p.m. Till 2 a.m. But they are just some Chinese black box leds.

 

[Husker]

Keep in mind fish are imported from the South Pacific and are capable of adjusting circadian rhythms.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

My tank is lit from 1100 to 2300... I don't get up early on my days off so why waste those few hours in the morning when I'm not around to look at the tank. Unless your tank is under a window getting direct light, day or night lighting cycle won't matter to corals and fish couldn't give a fin other wise.

 

[cpvince]

My lights don't come on until the afternoon as well and this schedule doesn't seem to bother the livestock. Most of my fish will just go into hiding within the rockwork and I don't see them until lights on.

 

[Saltybubbles288]

Keep in mind fish are imported from the South Pacific and are capable of adjusting circadian rhythms.

I was more concerned natural light or room lights would cause issues with their simulated night time.

 

[cpvince]

I was more concerned natural light or room lights would cause issues with their simulated night time.

Yeah, the natural light should be ok as long as it's fairly dim and the tank doesn't get any direct sunlight from a window during lights off. I have a giant window above my tank which lets in some filtered light until the late afternoon - and then gets blasted with sunlight. So I'm pretty darn sure you'll be fine with your proposed schedule.

 

[Saltybubbles288]

Yeah, the natural light should be ok as long as it's fairly dim and the tank doesn't get any direct sunlight from a window during lights off. I have a giant window above my tank which lets in some filtered light until the late afternoon - and then gets blasted with sunlight. So I'm pretty darn sure you'll be fine with your proposed schedule.

Good to hear, I'll be putting up some darker shades in the house to be safe. I've be planning to do that since I moved in but has been ignored on the list.

 

[Diesel]

Now if you change your schedule make sure you do it after Monday, fish get really messed up if a solar eclipse come around in the same week you change your schedule.
It's like a eclipse back to back.