Lighting req'd during cycle to grow bacteria?

[Doug G]

Does the bacteria I'm trying to grow during the cycle need light to form?

The reason I ask is my two remaining neons (third died about a week ago) seem to be shimmying in the lower corner of the tank when the light is on. I realize this is likely because they feel insecure in this small number. If I turn off the fluorescent overhead and just use a nearby incandescent so the tank is significantly dimmer, they seem to come out and swim around are a lot less stressed. They are still eating and don't show any physical signs of stress/disease yet.

I'm currently cycling and at 6gal with a guppy and gold molly I don't think adding 3-4 more neons is a good idea, would be overload. If I can keep the main light off most of the time for the next several weeks until the cycle completes I may try to save them and add more once stable. But if I need the light I'll probably return them or find a new home as they'd likely expire from the stress of being subjected to it 8-12hrs/day.

[SkarloeysMom]

The light will not speed up the cycling process. And you're right, its not a good idea to add anymore fish until your tank is cycled.

[Sasquatch]

No you don't need the light. They're bacteria, not algae.

If having the light off reduces the stress of the fish, turn it off.

I'll warn you though, your neons will probably loose a lot of their coloration. This happened to ours when we kept the light off for more than a couple of days. I don't think it's anything serious, but it's good to know so you don't panic if your neons go pale.

[gm72]

Agreed. Keep the light off if it makes your fish feel better. As to their colors, they adapt to their environment. Darker environment means they will have darker (less) color.

My solo black skirt tetra in a 10 gallon is nice and dark when the light is off, but when I turn on the lights he loses some of it. The neons in the same tank are just opposite. Pretty interesting.

[Fishguy2727]

A 6 gallon is a pretty small tank. In my opinion it is too small for neons because they prefer a school (6 or more) and the actual swimming space in a 6 is just not enough. Not to mention the chemical instability of that small of a tank.

[Doug G]

Good to hear that no light needed to stimulate the bacterial growth.

Yes, I agree the 6gal is small. It was originally just for the guppy and snail my son brought home but now I've got the bug! My plan is to let the cycling process complete and then get a larger tank (at least 55gal) to put in its place. I'll be doing the fishless cycling method for the new one and then use the 6gal as a quarantine/hospital tank. If my neons make it thru the cycling I'll transfer them and add several more to the new tank when its ready and they should be much happier.

[gm72]

Sounds like a great plan.