Opposite light schedule safe?

[Playhouse]

Hey guys. This is my first post. I am in the process of establishing my first reef tank. I have kept heavily planted fresh tanks in the past and finally took the dive into the reef world.

I have a night job and arrive home in at about 1:30. I have my freshwater tanks on about four hours prior to me arriving and finish their cycle while I can look.

Here is my question. Will the ambiant light in my living room mess with the tank? I would rather have them in the main room as it is where I spend most of my time, or would it be necessary to move to another room that can remain dark while the lights are off?

I've searched but the forum is flooded with light cycle length conversations.

 

[C.Eymann]

Some wager that ambient light can affect the respiration cycle, it is always advised to keep your aquarium as dark as possible during this, which is why there is a lot of controversy about some moon light leds being too strong etc etc.
I think boils down to the extent of the strength of the ambient light entering the aquarium.

Maybe others will have better, more extensive insight.

 

[Playhouse]

Thank you for taking the time to post. I appreciate the help.

The lights are open enough to let plants get light. It has Windows on the east and south sides of the room that has a decent amount of light from sun up to sun down.

I have the option of placing the tank in a guest bedroom that we have a few storage items in now. But I can do it if it needs doing. I've always liked the idea of a fish room.

 

[kmbyrnes]

If you work a regular schedule, you can just have your lights on timers. Run the full daylight schedule for growth during the time natural light hits the tank.
Run the lights for your enjoyment when ever it is convenient.
The lights on my tanks come on from 4:30 - 5:50 AM so I can enjoy them with morning coffee. Tanks don't seem to mind.

 

[thegrun]

I know several reefers who have kept successful reef tanks on "opposite" normal daylight schedules without issues. It is best to try and keep the tank as dark as possible during the night period, but unless your tank gets a lot of daylight during the night schedule you should be fine. I have never seen a good study conducted on the matter, but I know it can be done.

 

[A1t2o]

Just set it up so that the lights are on when you want, but so that there is still some period of darkness. Like on at 12:30 so that it still gets the period of darkness between sunset and 12:30 and you get to enjoy a tank that wasn't just off 10 min ago. Try to make it so the tank is in a shadow to limit the light it gets, but other than that I would say you just need to try it out and see if it works.

 

[Jeff4777]

I would just set the lighting schedule to fit yours so you can enjoy the fish. When the lights are off just do what you can to make sure its as dark as you can manage.

 

[Playhouse]

You guys are great! Thank you for all the replies.

I got the go-ahead for the fish room. Conditions apply, I agreed to store holiday decorations in the closet, but the room is mine.

There is just too much sun in the living room. The "fish room" is on the side of our home that receives no sunlight. I can put up blackout curtains to provide artificial night for the tank. I already have an extra set as I use them for our bedroom so I can enjoy artificial darkness during my messed up sleep cycle.