| Please help improve this article by adding citations | | | | some, due to the lights' heat output have had to |
| to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be | | | | add chillers to keep aquarium water cool. |
| challenged and removed. (January 2008) | | | | Many light fixtures come as all-in-one units with |
| Aquarium lighting describes any type of light that | | | | light for both daylight hours and nighttime viewing. |
| is used to illuminate an aquarium tank or in some | | | | LED lamps of 3/4 to 2 watts can be implemented |
| instances, such as with reef aquariums, support | | | | to come on at night, simulating the glow of the |
| the life contained within. | | | | moon over the tank. All in one fixtures require |
| Freshwater | | | | large fans to cool the bulbs and achieve maximum |
| Freshwater aquarium lighting often comes in two | | | | light efficiency. LED lighting is also becoming more |
| forms; one is a screw-in style incandescent bulb | | | | common for not only lunar lighting but also to |
| and the other is normal output fluorescent lighting. | | | | simulate daylight conditions, LEDs have a higher |
| Screw-in compact fluorescent lighting is also used | | | | initial cost than other lighting sources but utilize |
| in freshwater aquaria since it provides brighter | | | | much less energy. They are also dimmable. LEDs |
| light output than traditional screw-in style bulbs. | | | | produce a very narrow color spectrum that is |
| More demanding freshwater set-ups, such as | | | | limited to a narrow band of wavelengths. For this |
| planted freshwater aquariums, may require | | | | reason an array of different colored LEDs is |
| stronger light sources. Compact fluorescent bulbs, | | | | required to be used in combination to simulate |
| high output T5 bulbs or metal halide lamps are | | | | spectral coverage that is suitable for coral growth. |
| often used over such aquariums to encourage | | | | Early adopters of pure LED based systems have |
| plant growth. While these lights can provide a | | | | reported that the limited color spectrum provided |
| better spectrum than traditional ones, they often | | | | by LEDs may not produce optimal coral |
| use more electricity and have a high heat output. | | | | growth.v d e |
| Reef | | | | Aquarium and fishkeeping hobby |
| The reef aquarium field is where aquarium lighting | | | | Types |
| varies the greatest. Some reef aquarium keepers | | | | Freshwater aquarium Marine aquarium Brackish |
| use VHO (Very High Output) fluorescent tubes, | | | | water aquarium Community tank Biotope Reef |
| compact fluorescent lighting, and metal halide | | | | aquarium |
| lighting since they provide much brighter light than | | | | Aquarium equipment and furniture |
| average fluorescent bulbs and come in a variety | | | | Filter Berlin Method Protein skimmer Deep sand |
| of spectrums. Reef keepers often opt for light of | | | | bed Heater Refugium Calcium reactor Bog-wood |
| varying spectrum. Since many corals require a | | | | and Driftwood Airstone Live rock Substrate |
| deep blue or actinic spectrum of light to thrive | | | | Fishcam Aquarium fish feeder Aquarium lighting |
| many aquarists must supplement traditional white | | | | Fish terms |
| light with light of this color. Also popular with reef | | | | Hardy fish Dither fish Algae eater Bottom feeder |
| keepers is T5 High Output fluorescent bulbs. | | | | Tropical fish Coldwater fish Painted fish |
| These bulbs are thinner than traditional T8 bulbs | | | | Fish food |
| and provide a much brighter, more powerful light. | | | | Flake food Feeder fish Bloodworms Brine shrimp |
| Another light source in reef aquariums today is | | | | Tubifex tubifex Daphnia Infusoria |
| metal halide lighting. These high output lights | | | | Lists |
| closely recreate the shimmering effect of bright | | | | List of freshwater aquarium fish species List of |
| tropical sun over a patch of coral reef. Metal halide | | | | freshwater aquarium plant species List of |
| bulbs come in a variety of spectra from 5000k | | | | freshwater aquarium invertebrate species List of |
| on up to "20,000"k and allow for a variety of light | | | | marine aquarium fish species List of brackish |
| hungry corals to survive under them. Many | | | | aquarium fish species List of aquarium diseases |
| aquarists will use metal halide bulbs in conjunction | | | | Other terms |
| with either power compact fluorescents or T5 | | | | Aquascaping Spawning triggers Reef safe |
| fluorescents since halide lighting does not have the | | | | MacQuarium Bath treatment |
| overall balanced effect of other light types. While | | | | Aquarium magazines |
| very useful to reef aquarium keepers, halide | | | | Practical Fishkeeping Tropical Fish Hobbyist Koi |
| lighting also uses a lot of electricity (150-400 | | | | Aquarium Fish International |
| watts being common)and produces copious | | | | People |
| amounts of heat. Most reef keepers mount halide | | | | Takashi Amano Herbert R. |
| bulbs at least one foot above their tank and | | | | |