subject: Five main types of aquarium lights [print this page] Five main types of aquarium lights Five main types of aquarium lights
It is a misconception that when setting up an aquarium, any lighting fixture will do. This is in fact not the case; proper aquarium lighting is essential to maintaining a healthy aquarium and healthy fish.
Different types of aquariums have different lighting needs. You will need to do some research into the types of fish you intend to acquire and what their specific needs are. An important factor is whether or not you will be keeping freshwater plants or saltwater reefs. The amount and type of aquatic light you will need is dependent on these factors.
There are five main types of aquarium lights. The five main types are regular fluorescent lights, compact fluorescents, high and very high output fluorescents, metal halides, and Light Emitting Diodes (LED's aquarium lights). Each of these lights serves different purposes for aquarium lighting.
Regular fluorescent bulbs are acceptable for most fresh and saltwater fish. You will want choose a light to fit the hood on top of your aquarium. A full spectrum fluorescent is a good idea to be sure that your fish are absorbing all of the wavelengths necessary to keep them healthy.
If you intend to have live plants in a freshwater aquarium, different lighting may be necessary. Plants need certain wavelength light rays in order to produce energy through photosynthesis which they depend upon to survive. Each type of plant will have its own lighting needs. You will have to research the plants for specific directions. A general rule of thumb for plant aquarium lighting is 2-5 watts of light per gallon of water in your aquarium.
Saltwater aquariums with living corals or other non-fish organisms will need very special lighting. These tanks require high or very high output fluorescent bulbs or metal halides. These tanks need 4 to 10 watts of light per gallon of aquarium water. This classification of aquarium lighting tends to produce heat which must be treated properly to prevent overheating of your aquarium. Special fixtures with built in fans may be necessary to disperse the extra heat. In some cases, you may even need a chiller to keep your water and an appropriate temperature for your fish.
Another important part of lighting your aquarium is the day/night cycle. An electric timer is recommended to keep your fish on a regular schedule and so as not to stress them. An LED moonlight simulator may be obtained for particularly delicate species to emulate the soft wavelengths given off by the moon in nature. The best way to determine whether or not you will need this addition to your aquatic lighting system is to thoroughly research the fish you intend on purchasing.
