Absent from fish: Lights left on or off?

If I had to leave for, say, three days and there was no one to watch my fish, should I leave my lights on or off? I'd imagine that either would stress out the fish. If I leave the lights constantly on I'd worry about their little eyeballs being strained. But if I leave the lights off for three days I'm afraid my plants will wilt or die. What should I do?

Tanks I'm referring to:
55 gallon: Elassoma gilberti
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10 gallon: Swordtail fry, Elassoma fry
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Bucket tank: Four swordtail adults, one betta
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Edited by EricaWieser, 11 January 2011 - 05:46 PM.

I use a timer on many of my lights. I prefer the push pin ones over the digital, can usually find ones that will take a couple plugs for 5 or 6 bucks, have worked well. The digital ones I had were a pain to set but that may be due to being cheap ones. Don't remember what brand I never ended up using them.

I use a timer on many of my lights. I prefer the push pin ones over the digital, can usually find ones that will take a couple plugs for 5 or 6 bucks, have worked well. The digital ones I had were a pain to set but that may be due to being cheap ones. Don't remember what brand I never ended up using them.

And I'm kicking myself right now for not owning one, but I don't have time to buy one and figure out how it works before I fly out. I just thought of this the day before my plane takes off.

Neither fish nor plants should be hurt whether you leave them on or off. I turn lights off when I leave, on the theory that it is slightly safer.

You live in a dorm, don't you? Can you ask roommates to help out?

You live in a dorm, don't you? Can you ask roommates to help out?

nope.

I'm leaning towards leaving them on, I think. The fish can hide inside the ceratophyllum if their eyes get bothered. Right?

I talked to someone else just now and decided this:
1. Leave the lights off in the main 55. The plants are mature and will be fine, and it's in front of a window anyway, so there will be shadowy light a bit.
2. Leave the lights on in the bucket. Those are small plant clippings and they need high intensity lights to not die. The fish are also super sturdy (they're my hybrid breeding program results) so I'm sure they'll be fine. I mean, they're living in a bucket with no problems. They'll be fine.
3. Don't know what to do about the fry tank. Again, small plant clippings, but the fish are delicate because they're young. I'm leaning towards leaving the lights off and the bubbler (current) off in the hopes that they'll slow their metabolism and just hibernate in the darkness. They won't receive food for three days, so that's probably the best way to go about it. Hmm.

I have left my tank lights off for three days before more than once. None of the plants or fish seemed any worse for it. Everything is on timers now though. YMMV however.

p.s Anytime a fish or plant is shipped to you it is in the dark for multiple days during shipping as well.

Edited by dafrimpster, 13 January 2011 - 09:14 AM.

I have left my tank lights off for three days before more than once. None of the plants or fish seemed any worse for it. Everything is on timers now though. YMMV however.

p.s Anytime a fish or plant is shipped to you it is in the dark for multiple days during shipping as well.

true. I am flying back tomorrow and am hoping that I can be able to report that everything fared okay.

Ah! The tank dropped down to 64 F without the lights. I didn't know that that's what was keeping it at 70. (the fish are fine)