Lighting issues
 

Hi!
Since daylight is shorter during winter, I always open the curtains and let the sun rays come in the room. I switch the light off. Than in evening and whole night I leave the lights on.
Is this good for Amazon plants? Plus I have an underwater light tube white colour. Is it better to have above light above the water though my aquarium does look pretty well lit up.

Welcome to Tropical Fish Keeping forum.:-D

I moved your post out of the very old thread in which it was posted, and started a new thread of its own. It is best not to post in old threads, or those not directly unrelated to your specific issue.

Now to your questions. Winter sunlight for those of us in the temperate zones is significantly less than during our summer period. However, you are in Nepal, much closer to the equator, so this is less of an issue.

Generally speaking, ambient daylight/sunlight entering a room will not be sufficient for plants in an aquarium unless the tank is basically in front of a bright window. But then the plants will grow to the light, which makes viewing them difficult, and they grow "odd."

Overhead tank light is best, as it allows the plants to naturally grow upward which is not only better for the plants but for us viewing the aquarium.

I have never experimented with light under the water, but my first issue would be it is totally un-natural for not only plants but fish. And this could cause serious problems for fish health and plant growth. I would keep the tank lighting over the tank.

Byron.

Thanks for your prompt reply and moving my thread. Why would it be a problem for the fish and what would that problem be? I am not a rocket scentist but I am guessing 'cos of the light direct to the eyes maybe. But wouldn't the overhead light throw the same amount of light too?

Almost all of our aquarium fish occur in natural waters that are very dimly lit. And what light there is, naturally comes from above. So the fish "expect" to haver overhead light but darkness below them. Their body colouration reflects this, they are lighter on the underside so when viewed by a predator from below they are less conspicuous, and darker on the upper side so when viewed from above they are less conspicuous as they blend into the very dark substrate. This is why a white sand substrate is not good.

Fish that are forced to live in an aquarium that does not respect these factors will almost certainly be under stress, and that weakens them causing a premature death (they do not live a normal lifespan) and subjects them to various health problems that would otherwise not be a problem. And by "forced" to live I mean that the fish is obviously confined to the aquarium habitat we create, and has no means of escape, as it would in nature by swimming elsewhere. When one keeps fairly large tanks with groups of various fish species all this becomes self-evident; the fish naturally stay in the area of the tank that provides what they expect.

You might find it helpful to read my article on light in the Freshwater Articles section; here's the direct link:
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/f...er-fish-81982/

Byron.

Thanks man will have a read on that any see if helps any than some.

Good read that. Maybe thats why my betta's been hiding under the conch. Will try to minimise the use of the light. My aquarium dont have a system to fix overhead light.

with minimum use of the underwater light my Siamese fighter has come out to play again. :)

Now my only concern would be the light for my plants. As natural sunlight is not the solution. Still would rather keep changing live plants than have damaged eyes fish.

Overhead tank lighting is fine, just don't go overboard.:lol:

Added a new ROXIN RX-400 Fishly Appreciation & Germ Killing Lamp Blue, Pink, Green colours. Heard that Blue to clean water, Pink for Health and Green for plants. Fish seem very happy with this.