| Having the correct lighting is a very important part of | | | | But they can be hot bulbs and you'll need to adjust |
| the set-up of freshwater aquariums, but it's often | | | | your water temperature. Often a fan is used in a |
| the most confusing, especially for beginning aquarists. | | | | hood that uses compact fluorescent lighting. |
| It's mainly confusing because of all the choices | | | | High Output Fluorescent Bulbs |
| available in lighting for tanks. It used to be that you | | | | These lights run from 20 to 60 watts and last longer |
| could either choose a regular incandescent light bulb | | | | than regular fluorescent bulbs, but are more |
| or a fluorescent one. | | | | expensive. |
| Not so anymore... Now you have many many choices, | | | | Very High Output Fluorescent Bulbs |
| from fluorescent bulbs to LED bulbs. And they all | | | | These are more powerful lights and will be between |
| have different advantages. You might want to | | | | 75 to 1000 watts. They run very hot, and are very |
| consider lighting based on whether you have plants in | | | | expensive. The lighting unit that takes these lights will |
| your fish tank, too. | | | | have fans built in to keep the tank and the lighting |
| There are several types of fluorescent lighting, metal | | | | cool. |
| halide and LED aquarium lights. If you have a | | | | Metal Halide Bulbs |
| freshwater aquarium with only fish and no living | | | | These types of bulbs will range somewhere from 175 |
| plants in it, you will only need a low wattage | | | | to 1000 watts. But--they are considered more like |
| fluorescent bulb. They will run anywhere from 18 to | | | | natural sunlight, making them quite expensive to |
| 40 watt bulbs and will last about a year. | | | | purchase and operate. And they do give off a lot of |
| Typically, for a tank with live plants, you'll need to | | | | heat, so they will be cooled by a fan. Generally these |
| consider the depth of your aquarium, what types of | | | | types of lights are good for saltwater reef tanks. |
| plants you have in your tank, and what rate you | | | | LED Bulbs |
| want your plants to grow. You'll need 2 to 5 watts | | | | Some aquarists consider this type of light to be the |
| of strength for each gallon in your tank. | | | | wave of the future. It has lots of advantages, |
| Regular Fluorescent Bulbs | | | | including running cooler than most of the other |
| Most beginning aquariums come with regular | | | | options. They use much less energy and have a |
| fluorescent lights. These are inexpensive to purchase, | | | | much longer life span. They're also small. But--they're |
| to replace and maintain. They are usually around a 40 | | | | still very expensive. |
| watt bulb. | | | | Consider all the options when choosing the correct |
| Compact Fluorescent Bulbs | | | | lighting for your freshwater tank. You may want to |
| These types of lights are considered a step up from | | | | add an aquarium light timer to your system to turn |
| regular fluorescent bulbs. They will be in the 10 to 100 | | | | the light on and off at the right time of day, so |
| watt range and are more intense and bright lighting. | | | | there's less for you to think about. |