[mistergreen]

I was thinking that in nature, plants don't get light all the time and they manage and it might help.

So, it's kinda not 'natural' to have lights on everyday... Maybe once a month, do a blackout to get rid of any pesky algae and reset the plants?

 

[Green Leaf Aquariums]

It cant hurt, Ive read a good siesta was a positive thing for planted tanks. 1-2 hrs. in the middle of the day. Tropical environments are not allways sunny

 

[unirdna]

I've been experimenting with this idea. No electical lighting once a week on a "problem tank" of mine (the tank still get ambient light). I continue to play around with the lighting regime. It's still way too early for me to draw any conclusions. But, so far, I have seen nothing negative from this.

 

[rain-]

Christel Kasselmann writes in her book "Aquarium Plants" that it's not natural to have a totally dark day and it's not beneficial to plants to turn off the lights for a day once a week like some people do. In the nature, even in rainy day, there's never pitch black during day time. Once a month might not hurt the plants much, but I don't think it does any good either.

 

[sethsmom5702]

In the nature, even in rainy day, there's never pitch black during day time.

I'm not sure if everyone's tank is the same as mine, but even when the lights are off during the day, there's still light in the tank(I would think the amount of light in the tank would be comparable to the amount of light we'd see on an overcast or rainy day), so I don't see what the problem would be if you turned them off one day a week or so(as long as you don't cover the tank, it'll still get light).

 

[James From Cali]

I'm not sure if everyone's tank is the same as mine, but even when the lights are off during the day, there's still light in the tank(I would think the amount of light in the tank would be comparable to the amount of light we'd see on an overcast or rainy day), so I don't see what the problem would be if you turned them off one day a week or so(as long as you don't cover the tank, it'll still get light).

I agree. As long as there is some form of light(not as overpowering as our lights) then it should be fine. And you also have a solution to Algae.

 

[Bri]

I could be wrong here, but my guess is that even on the darkest, overcast days there is plenty of light/uv that plants in nature are getting.

 

[James From Cali]

Yeah its just not as intense. But the plants utilize the light they are getting in nature.

 

[Green Leaf Aquariums]

I would'nt turn off for a full day, just an hour per say. A full Day seems much.
Just a siesta period.I dont think it would hurt to have a rainy day, it is natural

 

[Betowess]

I tend to be in the once a month, or every other month, or 3 times a year camp. A one day long blackout, or even two full days and nights won't hurt the aquarium one bit. Is it natural? I doubt it but who cares if it works and doesn't hurt the plants or fish. A enclosed aquarium is far from a truly natural setting anyhow. IME, plants really can clear up with a nice blackout every once in a while, just not on a regular basis.

 

[Burks]

I did a blackout over this weekend while I wasn't home.

Came back to slightly less hair algae, sprouted plant bulbs, and great plant growth.

 

[plantbrain]

Christel Kasselmann writes in her book "Aquarium Plants" that it's not natural to have a totally dark day and it's not beneficial to plants to turn off the lights for a day once a week like some people do. In the nature, even in rainy day, there's never pitch black during day time. Once a month might not hurt the plants much, but I don't think it does any good either.

I'd certainly agree with that assessment as well.
I'd also highly suggest not using a problem tank to test anything.

Take a tank that is healthy, induce the problem specifically(say BGA), then go back and try the treatment. That requires you to have enough control over the system to actually test it and see if it has the affect you think it does.



Regards,
Tom Barr



Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[AaronT]

I know of someone who programs their lights to be off for two days out of the week and there doesn't seem to be any ill effect to the plants.