How to Choose the Best Lighting System For Your Freshwater Aquarium

Aside from maintaining the quality of water, a keyoverheating.
aspect in the setting up of a freshwater aquariumMetal halide lamps range from 175 to 1000 watts
is a good lighting system. Like us humans, it isand have Kelvin ratings from 5000 to 20,000
important that your pet fish, crabs and otherdegrees. Since they are also very bright and emit
underwater species have sufficient lighting. Lightinga lot of heat, a fanning system must also be
is also used to magnify the true beauty of theprovided to avoid a rise in water temperature.
aquarium and the pets inside. If you haveLight emitting diodes (LED) are considered to be
wonderful fish, don't you want to show them off?the breakthrough in aquarium lights with numerous
Before you make your choice regarding the bestadvantages over their counterparts. They are also
lighting system for your aquarium, let's firstvery expensive. LED aquarium lights run much
identify the kinds of lighting systems that arecooler than regular fluorescent bulbs and metal
available. These include the regular fluorescenthalide light bulbs. They consume less energy, have
lights, the compact fluorescent lights, the highlonger a shelf-life, they are more durable for they
output (HO) fluorescent lights, the very highhave no filaments and they are easily configurable
output (VHO) fluorescent lights, the metal halidedue to their small size.
and the light emitting diodes (LED).Now that you are aware of the various kinds of
Regular fluorescent lights come with starter tanksaquarium lighting systems, the next step is to find
and are very affordable, ranging from 15 to 40the lighting system that is the most suited to
watts. They have Kelvin ratings ranging fromyour aquarium. If you have a freshwater
3000 to 10,000 degrees.aquarium with only fish inside, regular low-watt
Compact fluorescent light bulbs range from 10 tofluorescent (those types which have ranges of 18
100 watts and have Kelvin ratings of 5000 toto 40 watts), will suffice. They usually have a life
10,000 degrees. They are a step up from regularspan of about a year.
fluorescent bulbs and have brighter lighting andHowever, if you plan on keeping live plants inside
therefore have the capacity to raise wateryour freshwater aquarium, you might want to
temperature. Due to this, they usually come withinvest in better lighting sources. Provide as much
fan hoods.as two to five watts per aquarium gallon to
High output (HO) fluorescent lights range from 20ensure your plants gain the greatest benefit.
to 60 watts and have Kelvin ratings from 6000Remember that light is needed in order for
to 11,000 degrees, which means they are morephotosynthesis (the food making process in
expensive and last longer than regular fluorescentplants) to occur. So in order for your plants to
light bulbs. They require a T5 light fixture.remain healthy, provide them with the right kind
Very high output (VHO) fluorescent lights rangeof lighting system.
from 75 to 160 watts and have Kelvin ratingsBeing aware of this information can help you
from 10,000 to 20,000 degrees. They are verybetter choose the most appropriate lighting
bright and emit a lot of heat so fans aresystem for your aquarium. And a good lighting
incorporated into the lighting unit, but even whensystem is one significant step to becoming the
that is the case, an aquarium chiller might beowner of a beautifully maintained freshwater
needed in order to further avoid aquariumaquarium.