Is the lighting too bright?

[sandfly]

Hey guys, I've been wondering if my aquarium light is too intense for my betta. She's pretty chill during the day when it's on, but comes alive when it's off or in night mode. I've got white substrate and some decent fake plants in there. If this light is indeed too bright, how can I tone it down without replacing it? I mean, I paid $110 for this 5-gallon setup, so I wanna get the most out of it.

Specs:
Lumen=821
Color Temp=7000k
Substrate Color=White

[florapod]

Do you know the PAR value for that light? I'm assuming you've got a kit for that 5-gallon tank. Medium-high lighting, that's what I'd call it based on the lumens. The light's probably what's making your betta so inactive during the day. You don't need a light that bright without live plants. Floating plants could help - they'll block some of the light and they're pretty cool. Red Root Floater or Zorchzon Frogbit are good options - they've got nice roots and they're not too expensive on Zorchzon, as long as your local temps aren't too crazy.

[angelica]

I think I've figured out some possible solutions for you, sandfly. So, you've got a few options here.

You could change to a darker substrate, that's what I'd recommend. The white substrate is probably making the light reflect even more and making it seem even brighter to your betta.

Another option would be to add some floating plants like water sprite or frogbit. These will help filter the light and make it less intense for your betta. I think florapod mentioned something similar with the Red Root Floater or Zorchzon Frogbit.

Lastly, you could get a dimmer. That way, you can control the amount of light entering the tank and find a level that works for both you and your betta.

[brinyveg]

I've noticed with my betta, the white substrate seems to stress her out. I've read that black substrate can really calm fish down, so I'm thinking of making the switch.