"WhiskerFish" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 29 Mar 2003 20:21:22 GMT, wrote:

For a few years now I have kept my light on for 12 hours a day.
However, I have always turned it on in the morning 6am to 12 noon and
then again in the evening 6pm to 12 midnight. I kept it off during the
day because of how hot the tank gets in the summer.


I'm torn as well. On one hand, I leaned a phrase in the Army; "Don't matter
how stupid it is, if it works, it ain't stupid." If the system is working,
then it's working.
On the other hand, your system is incorrect from a nature point of view.
Having continuous light, a sold day and night would likely work better IMO.
What would *I* do in your shoes? I'd get a timer and have the light on
12 hours a day or so, set to be on when you'll be around and want to watch
the tank. Mine are set to 9am to about 9pm, my bedtime.
Since we're concerened about heat from the lights, I'd get a power
converter and a small 12v fan and mount it somewhere unobtrusive. Put the
converter on the same circuit as the lights so goes on and off with the
lights. Whole project should come under 35 USd including converter, fan and
timer.

billy