[secrest]

Like the topic says, my fish are starting to freak out when the lights turn off. I'm not sure if it's all of the fish or just one. I was at work tonight and when I called to talk to the wife she had a horror story for me involving the lights turning off, my male red empress jumping into the overflow, and the tank overflowing....what a fun night for a pregnant woman.

So needless to say, I'm in a bit of trouble for this and would like to know if anyone has any ideas as to why the fish are freaking out when lights are turned off and what I can do to fix this before it happens again.

If it helps the lights are on an automatic timer, and I have two normal output fluorescent bulbs

 

[Chris2500DK]

Maybe you could try for a more gradual change of the lights? Either by using dimmable lights or by turning on/off the bulbs individually so the change isn't from bright to dark instantaniously.

 

[xdustyj]

maybe try some led moonlighting???

 

[Dewdrop]

Both previous suggestions are good, I think, but I would wonder why this is happening all of a sudden or is it a fairly new tank?
I turn my tank light off first then wait a little to turn the room light off.

 

[secrest]

Thank tank has been set up for a few months so its still fairly new, but this has never happened before. Just started last night.

 

[Scooter Trash]

It's not uncommon for me to hear the somewhat unnerving sound of a fish taking flight.....sometimes it's shortly after the light goes off, sometimes it's quite a bit later and sometimes it's in the middle of the day. I just make it a habit of checking the tank after I hear the splashing to make sure everyone is present and accounted for (not to mention checking floor around the tank)...I've lost a few fish over the years to the flying fish routine. A couple of times I didn't find the remains until I moved.

If it's possible, you might try adding some strategically placed mesh around the open areas.

 

[punman]

I don't use timers.
When I turn my lights on the tanks in the basement when I come home, I turn the room light on for 10 min. before turning on the tank light. Then I can turn the room light off.
Conversly at bed time, I turn on the roomlight, then turn off the tank light immediately. Ten min. later I turn off the room light.
Just not fair to the fish to jar them with the intense changes in light quantities.

 

[punman]

I don't use timers.
When I turn my lights on the tanks in the basement when I come home, I turn the room light on for 10 min. before turning on the tank light. Then I can turn the room light off.
Conversly at bed time, I turn on the roomlight, then turn off the tank light immediately. Ten min. later I turn off the room light.
Just not fair to the fish to jar them with the intense changes in light quantities.