Fish only aquarium with no lights?

j.falk · 06/06/2017, 05:38 AM

Has anyone ever ran a fish only aquarium with no lights? If so, what kind of experience did you have? Any negative aspects?

I'm considering not having any lights on my aquarium while it goes through the cycling process and then I'd like to keep a pair of clowns in it until the tank is established enough for a RBTA. When I'm ready for the RBTA then I would purchase the required lighting. Can anyone see any downside to doing something like this? The room the aquarium will be in gets plenty of natural daylight as well as 6 recessed ceiling lights that are on most of the day. The tank also won't be placed in direct sunlight...so I can't really see where anything could go wrong with it. Thoughts?

garethwood · 06/06/2017, 05:53 AM

imo the lights aren't just there for you fish and corals but also for your own enjoyment : ) i mean you wouldnt hang a painting in an unlit room... would you?

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WatDatThing · 06/06/2017, 06:41 AM

Why would you add fish while cycling? You should cycled the tank, and qt the clown separately. Light is not needed during cycling.

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nereefpat · 06/06/2017, 07:29 AM

After the tank is cycled, you can keep the clowns without a light. The fish won't care much.

j.falk · 06/06/2017, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WatDatThing

Why would you add fish while cycling? You should cycled the tank, and qt the clown separately. Light is not needed during cycling.

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Read my post again. I said I was going to cycle the tank and THEN add a pair of clowns. I did not say I was going to put the clowns in during the cycle.

mcgyvr · 06/06/2017, 08:15 AM

Fish don't need light.. I wouldn't keep them in the pitch black though..
Ambient room is plenty..
So sure.. what you want is totally fine.. and would actually help with initial algae growth,etc...

WatDatThing · 06/06/2017, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.falk

Read my post again. I said I was going to cycle the tank and THEN add a pair of clowns. I did not say I was going to put the clowns in during the cycle.

My bad. No fun watching fish without light.

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j.falk · 06/06/2017, 08:28 AM

It's a well lit room...being able to see what's in the tank is definitely not an issue.

06/06/2017, 05:38 AM	#1
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	Fish only aquarium with no lights? Has anyone ever ran a fish only aquarium with no lights? If so, what kind of experience did you have? Any negative aspects? I'm considering not having any lights on my aquarium while it goes through the cycling process and then I'd like to keep a pair of clowns in it until the tank is established enough for a RBTA. When I'm ready for the RBTA then I would purchase the required lighting. Can anyone see any downside to doing something like this? The room the aquarium will be in gets plenty of natural daylight as well as 6 recessed ceiling lights that are on most of the day. The tank also won't be placed in direct sunlight...so I can't really see where anything could go wrong with it. Thoughts?

06/06/2017, 07:29 AM	#4
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	After the tank is cycled, you can keep the clowns without a light. The fish won't care much. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

06/06/2017, 08:15 AM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Fish don't need light.. I wouldn't keep them in the pitch black though.. Ambient room is plenty.. So sure.. what you want is totally fine.. and would actually help with initial algae growth,etc... __________________ Who me?

06/06/2017, 05:53 AM	#2
garethwood Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 92	imo the lights aren't just there for you fish and corals but also for your own enjoyment : ) i mean you wouldnt hang a painting in an unlit room... would you? Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

06/06/2017, 06:41 AM	#3
WatDatThing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 830	Why would you add fish while cycling? You should cycled the tank, and qt the clown separately. Light is not needed during cycling. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

06/06/2017, 08:28 AM	#8
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	It's a well lit room...being able to see what's in the tank is definitely not an issue.