Office tank - lighting on the weekend?

tekkguy · 01-10-2013, 09:41 PM

So my new Fluval Spec V is at home cycling, and I've decided I want a planted shrimp tank at the office. I was setting up a bowl already, but now I've got a 6.6 gallon Fluval Chi, and that is what I'm going to keep shrimp in at the office.

The thing is, it will be locked in my office over the weekend with no one to turn on the light during the day. Since the light is on the same plug as the filter, I can't hook it up to a timer. I'm not interested in changing the lighting or the filter from stock.

Should I get a desk lamp and put that on a timer for the weekends? Or will the tank be fine if I leave the light off until Monday morning? I could also plug the whole thing into a timer just for the weekend (filter would be off 16 hours a day, whenever the light is off).

Elppan · 01-10-2013, 09:53 PM

I have a spec v the light and filter are on two separate plugs

Sent from my phone, in the land of magical unicorns and rainbows!

tekkguy · 01-10-2013, 09:57 PM

My Spec V is at home ... this is Chi 6.6 gallon!

FriendsNotFood · 01-10-2013, 10:18 PM

Get a desk lamp and put it on a timer. The only tank I have that's at the office and has the lights out all weekend just has anubias in it. They grow... ok. Any other plant won't put up with a 48 hour blackout every week.

shift · 01-10-2013, 10:21 PM

Just buy a 10$ 120v timer for the light.

Stinkmonky · 01-10-2013, 10:51 PM

Why not put a power strip in the outlet then cheap individual mechanical timers

Conrad283 · 01-10-2013, 10:55 PM

The lamp and filter are on the same cord in the Chi I believe.

I second the suggestion of buying a desk lamp and a bulb and putting that on a timer.

tekkguy · 01-11-2013, 01:52 AM

Yes, Conrad is right - the Chi only has one power cord. That's why I asked the question.

If I do set this one up at the office, I'll have to use a desk lamp on the weekends. Thanks!

01-10-2013, 09:41 PM	#1
tekkguy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Mesquite, TX Posts: 164	Office tank - lighting on the weekend? So my new Fluval Spec V is at home cycling, and I've decided I want a planted shrimp tank at the office. I was setting up a bowl already, but now I've got a 6.6 gallon Fluval Chi, and that is what I'm going to keep shrimp in at the office. The thing is, it will be locked in my office over the weekend with no one to turn on the light during the day. Since the light is on the same plug as the filter, I can't hook it up to a timer. I'm not interested in changing the lighting or the filter from stock. Should I get a desk lamp and put that on a timer for the weekends? Or will the tank be fine if I leave the light off until Monday morning? I could also plug the whole thing into a timer just for the weekend (filter would be off 16 hours a day, whenever the light is off).

01-10-2013, 09:53 PM	#2
Elppan Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 403	I have a spec v the light and filter are on two separate plugs Sent from my phone, in the land of magical unicorns and rainbows! __________________ 15g Shrimp Hotel

01-10-2013, 10:21 PM	#5
shift Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: canada Posts: 891	Just buy a 10$ 120v timer for the light. __________________ 84G - The Osaka Forest 12G Fluval Edge - Celestial pearl Danios, Boraras urophthalmoides & PFR shrimp 5.5G Fluval Chi - Pumpkin shrimplets 10G - CRS/CBS 10G - Red Rilli's 10G - Yellow shrimp

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01-10-2013, 09:57 PM	#3
tekkguy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Mesquite, TX Posts: 164	My Spec V is at home ... this is Chi 6.6 gallon!

01-10-2013, 10:18 PM	#4
FriendsNotFood Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Hollywood, CA Posts: 993	Get a desk lamp and put it on a timer. The only tank I have that's at the office and has the lights out all weekend just has anubias in it. They grow... ok. Any other plant won't put up with a 48 hour blackout every week.

01-10-2013, 10:51 PM	#6
Stinkmonky Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 388	Why not put a power strip in the outlet then cheap individual mechanical timers

01-10-2013, 10:55 PM	#7
Conrad283 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 243	The lamp and filter are on the same cord in the Chi I believe. I second the suggestion of buying a desk lamp and a bulb and putting that on a timer.

01-11-2013, 01:52 AM	#8
tekkguy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Mesquite, TX Posts: 164	Yes, Conrad is right - the Chi only has one power cord. That's why I asked the question. If I do set this one up at the office, I'll have to use a desk lamp on the weekends. Thanks!