Lighting, when it's on, photo period, algae

[David Shanahan]

I'm currently running my tank so the lights come on at 4pm up to midnight because I like to have the tank on display when I'm home in the evenings. The tanks in a dark room with no direct sun light. Blinds are closed and the sun is on the other side of the house.

That said, the plants open up their leaves between 11 and midday, so I assume they are starting to get to work.

The Co2 comes on at 2pm, but the drop checker is dark green at this time, so I assume there is still Co2 in the water.

Do I run the risk of getting algae because the plants are up and running and low light is getting to the tank before the Co2 kicks in, or am I wrong.

Does anyone have an opinion on this.

 

[sciencefiction]

I don't think its a problem. I've done that for years on two of my tanks and when I got algae the odd times, it was for totally unrelated reasons, e.g. too much bioload. My tanks are low tech though so no CO2.

 

[AverageWhiteBloke]

It's an interesting question though and something I have pondered before. I, like the OP have my lights on best suited to my viewing times being in the evening when I get in from work and off around 11.30pm. I do change this in winter so it comes on earlier to try and avoid a period where it is dark in the room then the lights come on. Essentially the tank lights are on an extra 2 hours through winter which I do in 15 min increments as darker nights draw in earlier.
My tank isn't particularly in direct sunlight but nevertheless it still is getting light through the day albeit subdued sun light. Fair enough when we are throwing intense man made light over the tank there is a need to supply co2 to balance that but I wonder how much of a demand for co2 there is just from ambient sunlight? In my case I think I'm covered because I also dose liquid carbon before I leave for work in the morning. Hopefully this fulfils any co2 demand there is prior to the gas coming on.