Frequent Aquarium Questions

• How much light do I need for my 36 gallon bow to keep corals and a bubble tip anemone?
  
  
• Is it OK to turn the light on and off over my goldfish tank during the evening?
  
  
• I have a saltwater tank and I want to get an anenome. What type of lights and how many watts should I get?
  
  
• What are the lighting requirements to keep live rock?
  
  
• Do bettas need sunlight like humans do?
  
  
• I am going on a trip for a week and was wondering if I should leave my aquarium light on or off?
  
  
• What lighting system do you recomend for a tank with a wooden canopy?
  
  
• My fish seem to come out only when the lights are off. When the lights go on, they just cower in the corner. What can I do?
  
  
• I have heard a lot about timers for lights in aquariums. Where can I purchase some?
  
  
• Would a 40 watt 50/50 lamp on a 10 gallon tank be enough light to keep corals such as zoanthids and mushrooms?
  
  

• How much light do I need for my 36 gallon bow to keep corals and a bubble tip anemone?
  
  About four to five watts per gallon if you intend to keep hard corals.
  
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• Is it OK to turn the light on and off over my goldfish tank during the evening?
  
  No. Fish, just like people, need a consistent light cycle.
  
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• I have a saltwater tank and I want to get an anenome. What type of lights and how many watts should I get?
  
  You should have a minimum of 3-4 watts per gallon of daylight and actinic lighting.
  
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• What are the lighting requirements to keep live rock?
  
  You should have a minimum of 3 watts per gallon of water.
  
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• Do bettas need sunlight like humans do?
  
  Most fish with the exception of deep water, cave-dwelling, and albino species require exposure to light, natural or synthetic, to synthesize the production of Vitamin D.
  
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• I am going on a trip for a week and was wondering if I should leave my aquarium light on or off?
  
  I recommend purchasing an inexpensive timer to create a consistent light cycle of 8 hours for your fish.
  
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• What lighting system do you recomend for a tank with a wooden canopy?
  
  You should purchase a retrofit kit which you can mount on the inside top of the canopy. Most retrofit kits come with the aluminum reflector, lamp clips, sockets/endcaps, lamps, and ballasts.
  
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• My fish seem to come out only when the lights are off. When the lights go on, they just cower in the corner. What can I do?
  
  Darkness gives fish a sense of comfort because they are not as visible to natural predators. If this phenomenon is happening in your tank, it's because the fish don't feel safe out in the open. I would try aquascaping your tank with more hiding places and decorations.
  
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• I have heard a lot about timers for lights in aquariums. Where can I purchase some?
  
  Any local hardware store should have them. Even an Osco or Walgreens might carry them.
  
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• Would a 40 watt 50/50 lamp on a 10 gallon tank be enough light to keep corals such as zoanthids and mushrooms?
  
  Yes.
  
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