What Lighting to Put in Your Aquarium

All aquariums require lighting. It not only enhances the look of your aquarium, including the dcor and the fish themselves, but it is also necessary for the ecosystem in your tank, especially if you have live plants.

When purchasing an aquarium, a full tank setup is the easiest way to get all of the required equipment, including lighting. On the other hand, buying your own lighting allows you to customize the setup. Your choice in aquarium lighting depends on the tank size and the lighting requirements of the plants and fish you have selected.

The power of the aquarium lighting should be around 2 to 3 watts for every gallon of water in the tank. Keep in mind, however, that the lighting requirements for the aquarium with live plants would be more than that of the same aquarium with artificial plants. Be careful though, because more light is not always good for all fish. Some fish thrive in a brightly lit habitat, while some are bothered by too much light and end up being stressed. Furthermore, an environment with too much light causes algae to grow much faster.

For your lighting needs, you can choose between using fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are inexpensive, and therefore good for smaller aquariums, but their yellowish glow is not quite the same as natural light. They also generate heat so it would be a good idea to keep a thermometer handy, and monitor the water temperature regularly.

An aquarium with live plants, on the other hand, will call for fluorescent light. These lights are available in compact bulbs or in tube form. They do not generate heat and have more light per wattage. Live plants benefit from the light emitted by the fluorescent light. Note that for heavily planted tanks, more than the estimated 3 watts per gallon may be needed. For fittings, remember that the length of the fluorescent tube must not exceed the length of the aquarium hood. A compact fluorescent bulb will not have a problem. It can fit into any fixture meant for incandescent bulbs.

Some fluorescent lights come in specialized spectrums, though you can use an ordinary household fluorescent light. "Full Spectrum," which contains all of the necessary wavelengths of light, is the best choice for brightly colored fish and healthy plants. Different parts of the spectrum have different effects on your aquarium. Purple-tinted lights will bring out the colors in bright tropical fish; the blue area of the spectrum increases algae growth. Orange-red light is ideal for your aquatic plants.

Although a lot of fish are nocturnal, it is still important for the main aquarium light to be turned off at night to imitate the natural order they are used to. The use of submersible LED lights will allow you to watch your fish when the main aquarium lights are off. You can use different colors to highlight the dcor or the fish. To watch the fish without disturbing their daily routines, use small red or blue LED lights.

Replacing your aquarium light bulbs is an inevitable part of aquarium maintenance. Regardless of whether the light is still working, replace the bulb every year, because they grow dimmer over time.

Aquarium lighting, well-chosen, will have a big impact on how your aquarium looks and on the well-being of the life in it, so it deserves your careful consideration.

-->