clowns freak out when lights turned on?

isomorphic85 · 09/03/2015, 03:43 PM

When I turn on the lights on my tank (just the center section, not even the big boys) my clowns instantly dart dramatically for a couple moments. They then lay really low against the bottom sometimes for a few minutes.

Is this normal, is there way to help prevent this? It's the smallest amount of light i can turn on at one time in the tank

It's a red sea max s650 tank setup with stock lighting.

any thoughts?

Thanks guys.

-Mike

shifty51008 · 09/03/2015, 04:27 PM

They are fine, they will get used to the light schedual and not freak out. If you dont already have one i suggest getting a timer for your lights

CStrickland · 09/04/2015, 12:07 AM

When I qt I just use ambient light from the room they're in until they relax. I try to be a safe distance from the DT but close enough so they will feel at home with the light and noise and rhythms of our house. Then when I'm easing them into the food we serve, I add a weak led fw light timed to same time as the big one on the DT so they get into the groove a little easier.

Do the stock lights have separate controls for blues and whites? I bring on my blues a couple hours before whites to be slightly more natural. id be sun blind if if I woke up to full power. Idk if their eyes work like ours do such that they'd be disoriented by the lack of transition. If not you could turn on a lamp nearby first maybe, just to get a little glow in there beforehand as a transition

Or maybe can you raise the lights up higher for a couple weeks until they're settled?

Shawn O · 09/04/2015, 06:40 AM

Without eye lids I'd imagine it would be more of a shock to them than to a human.

isomorphic85 · 09/04/2015, 08:37 PM

They already seem to be used to it now. Thank you for the ideas guy's

CafeReef · 09/05/2015, 06:03 AM

Id compare it to someone coming into your room at 3am ripping your blanket off and turning your lights on at the same time... I'd freak out too

CStrickland · 09/05/2015, 10:34 AM

Yeah but they also have reeally small brains so idk if it's the same.

09/03/2015, 03:43 PM	#1
isomorphic85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 272	clowns freak out when lights turned on? When I turn on the lights on my tank (just the center section, not even the big boys) my clowns instantly dart dramatically for a couple moments. They then lay really low against the bottom sometimes for a few minutes. Is this normal, is there way to help prevent this? It's the smallest amount of light i can turn on at one time in the tank It's a red sea max s650 tank setup with stock lighting. any thoughts? Thanks guys. -Mike __________________ RedSea Max S650 DT Neptune Apex Gold, Neptune Dos, Neptune aff, JBJ chiller,120 lbs live sand 170 lbs dry rock, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, Emperor Aquatics 50 watt UV Red Sea E-260 with sump option Current Tank Info: RedSea Max S650 150 gallon , 25 Gallon sump, Red Sea E-260

09/03/2015, 04:27 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	They are fine, they will get used to the light schedual and not freak out. If you dont already have one i suggest getting a timer for your lights __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

09/04/2015, 12:07 AM	#3
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	When I qt I just use ambient light from the room they're in until they relax. I try to be a safe distance from the DT but close enough so they will feel at home with the light and noise and rhythms of our house. Then when I'm easing them into the food we serve, I add a weak led fw light timed to same time as the big one on the DT so they get into the groove a little easier. Do the stock lights have separate controls for blues and whites? I bring on my blues a couple hours before whites to be slightly more natural. id be sun blind if if I woke up to full power. Idk if their eyes work like ours do such that they'd be disoriented by the lack of transition. If not you could turn on a lamp nearby first maybe, just to get a little glow in there beforehand as a transition Or maybe can you raise the lights up higher for a couple weeks until they're settled? __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

09/04/2015, 06:40 AM	#4
Shawn O Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,474	Without eye lids I'd imagine it would be more of a shock to them than to a human. __________________ "55gal glass box full of water, rocks and some not-so-amused little fishes" 2x Occellaris, 1 Pajama, 1 Neon Dottyback. Current Tank Info: 55gal tank, sumpless, ReefOctopus Classic 90, Twin bulb T5.

09/04/2015, 08:37 PM	#5
isomorphic85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 272	They already seem to be used to it now. Thank you for the ideas guy's __________________ RedSea Max S650 DT Neptune Apex Gold, Neptune Dos, Neptune aff, JBJ chiller,120 lbs live sand 170 lbs dry rock, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, Emperor Aquatics 50 watt UV Red Sea E-260 with sump option Current Tank Info: RedSea Max S650 150 gallon , 25 Gallon sump, Red Sea E-260

09/05/2015, 06:03 AM	#6
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	Id compare it to someone coming into your room at 3am ripping your blanket off and turning your lights on at the same time... I'd freak out too __________________ 50 Gallon cube

09/05/2015, 10:34 AM	#7
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Yeah but they also have reeally small brains so idk if it's the same. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3