I was wondering if anyone has there lights go on and off with a normal day. What i mean is i have been having my lights go on at 10 and off at 7. I live in Mass so my day with sun is about 730-5. I was wondering anyone if has the lights imitate the regular day and if this at all makes a difference to fish and plants to be on a more natural lighting cycle, by this i would change my lighting to go on at 730-8 and off 5-530.

Too much light can cause algae problems. 8-10 hours a day is fine for light.

I have my lights come on around 12 noon and go off at 10pm. If I start to get algae, then I have the lights come on at 2pm and go off at 10pm. I have the lights on so late, because I like to watch my fish when I get home in the evening, so it doesn't make sense to have the lights on all day when I'm at work and then go off early in the evening.

Fish do appreciate day/night schedules, and they will adjust to your timing. So, as long as you don't have major algae issues, your light times are fine.

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36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

Plants or fish will not know the difference. I would let your plant health and whether or not you get algae determine the length of time you need and then move that period to the block of time that suits you best. No need to try and match the daylight hours.

I dont have any algae except for brown algae. would adjusting light length have any effect on the brown slimy algae?

I have my lights set to where my stock light comes on at about 7am-11pm
My Glo 54x2 T-5 HO comes on at 11am-7pm
and my moonlights come on at about 11pm-6am

The only time I had an algae issue was before I bought a second timer for my Glo light and it was on for something like 16 hours a day.

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75 Gallon Planted