Can fishes survive without light?

[GSMclowns]

Hello Everyone,

I have this really tough red algae that I have been trying to get rid of for years but without much success. So I think I will transfer all of my corals to another tank and shut down the light to the big tank for a 2 or 3 months. Hopefully this will kill the algae. So the tank will only have light from the windows and it isn't that much. Can the fishes survive like that for 2 or 3 months? or they will stress out and die?

Thanks,

[juniorrocketdad]

It should be fine, they may get disoriented when you turn them back on just make sure they are eating still

[hkgar]

Do you have Cyano. It is a red slime bacteria that could be considered algae. It can usually be eliminated with a 3 day lights out. I just completed a 3 day and cyano gone and fish and coral (left them in) are just fine.

[spscrackhead]

Yes the fish will survive with just window light. If you want, turn the lights on for about an hour each day and feed them.
So you have had an algae issue for a few YEARS now? Take a photo and post it here for us. Your tank shouldn't have much of any algae after being setup for that long. Shutting the lights off will only mask the problem. It is not a long term solution IMO.

[ssick92]

Hello Everyone,

I have this really tough red algae that I have been trying to get rid of for years but without much success. So I think I will transfer all of my corals to another tank and shut down the light to the big tank for a 2 or 3 months. Hopefully this will kill the algae. So the tank will only have light from the windows and it isn't that much. Can the fishes survive like that for 2 or 3 months? or they will stress out and die?

Thanks,

This is a silly question, but I'm assuming you aren't mistaking coralline for a red algae and trying to rid your tank of coralline? It technically is an algae after all...

But to answer your question, yes the fish should be fine. They can go a long time without food, and even longer without light. They will just be confused as heck when the lights come back on.

[Ou8me2]

I really not sure why you think you need turn off the lights for 2-3 months? Honestly, a week tops should be fine. Just seems like overkill to me and maybe un-needed stress to livestock and corals to me. Most corals will even do fine with 3-5 days of no light.

[Name That Tuna]

IMO there absolutely positively undeniable has to be an easier and better solution! Don't make extra work for yourself!! Blackouts should be 3 days max, leave the corals in... It's just unnatural to go months without light. How often do u change water? Do u use RO? Tap water? Do you test perimeters regularly? Put some pix up, and let the combined experience of the forum users unite! [emoji3]


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[Ron Reefman]

Can you post a photo of the algae? I found that with leds I could go all blue for days on end and the corals open, the fish seem OK and the algae that wants red white light struggles and dies.

[hkgar]

Where did he (she) go?