Aquarium lighting

Question
Hi Nick,thanks for your time and expertise. I have a 29 gal freshwater tank with a 22 watt long bulb for lighting. It came with my aquarium. It lights my tank very well. I have 3 black skirts and 5 danios and the black skirts hide in the corner and shake when I turn this light on. They seem terrified so I have been leaving it off. As soon as I turn it off they swim around again. I also have 2 low light plants. I have been trying to read about bulbs thinking maybe I could just replace bulb in fixture. There is glass between bulb and water. I have been taking light fixture totally off and allowing natural light through top of the glass. Any suggestions on what I could do without investing more money. If I could get another bulb what would you suggest. I don't want to stress my black skirts but would like to enjoy seeing things lit up? My fish are doing great. Thank You, Kim

Answer
Hello Kim!

Your black skirts are not stressed from lighting, they are stressed because they are in too few a school.

In nature, black skirts travel in schools of hundreds of fish, and day-time is when predators come looking for them. They don't want to be found when that weak.

I suggest getting at least 10 of them. Also, when turning your light on, first turn on the lights in the room. After 30min, then turn on the lights in the tank. Ideally, you should have a timer. Fish are stressed when lights come on at all difference times.