| Most people prefer to buy a plastic hood for their | | | | For fish-only systems, standard fluorescent bulbs are |
| tank that includes a cover and lighting. Most packages | | | | sufficient. For reef aquariums, you need to ensure |
| contain either one or two fluorescent bulbs that are | | | | that you select enough watts for the number of |
| built in to the hood. This type of setup is very simple. | | | | gallons of water your tank holds. A 55 gallon |
| You just place the hood on top of the tank, plug it | | | | aquarium, for example, would need at least 165 |
| in, and turn it on. | | | | watts, and up to 275 watts in order for |
| Standard normal-output fluorescent bulbs are | | | | photosynthesis to effectively take place. |
| perfectly acceptable for fish-only tanks, but they will | | | | In order to get that kind of wattage, you might |
| not be able to support photosynthetic animals, and | | | | need as many as 4-6 fluorescent tubes, which is far |
| they will not be bright enough to accommodate other | | | | more than any standard hood can accommodate. |
| marine animals than need extreme amounts of light | | | | Thus for marine aquariums, one must generally |
| to survive. | | | | choose VHO bulbs which require special ballasts. Or |
| Saltwater Reef Aquarium Lighting | | | | you could choose to go with metal halides instead. |
| If you intend to create a reef aquarium, your lighting | | | | Please note that a pre-made lighting system is NOT |
| needs will be different. For example, even placing a | | | | suitable for reef tanks. You will have to develop your |
| piece or two of live rock or soft corals will require | | | | own custom setup if you want the best possible |
| you to replace at least one of the bulbs in your hood | | | | solution. Some people use egg crates in their halide |
| with a higher Kelvin normal-output bulb. A 10,000K | | | | systems, but this is not advisable. A 250 watt halide |
| bulb will usually be sufficient for some reed life, but | | | | bulb will melt egg crates! |
| only soft corals like mushroom coral (actinodicus) and | | | | Saltwater Aquarium Lighting - Metal Halide Bulbs |
| sea mats would be able to live under the low lighting | | | | The trouble with metal halide bulbs is heat. They get |
| provided by two of these tubes. | | | | very, very hot. You've probably touched a normal |
| Saltwater Aquarium Lighting - Types of Bulbs | | | | 70-100 watt light bulb in your house before. They get |
| There are four main types of fluorescent bulbs: | | | | quite warm, but a 250 watt incandescent metal halide |
| 1. NO - Normal Output | | | | bulb will cause your tank temperature to rise |
| 2. HO - High Output | | | | precipitously. |
| 3. VHO - Very High Output | | | | Saltwater Aquarium Lighting Tips |
| 4. PC - Power Compacts (also known as Osram) | | | | You will need to make sure your hood keeps the |
| There is also another type of bulb altogether known | | | | bulbs at least 12 inches away from the water |
| as metal halide (MH). Metal halide bulbs are rated | | | | surface, ideally even higher. A distance of 15 inches |
| solely by wattage and spectral output. Since iodines | | | | would be better. This will allow some air to move |
| and sodiums are not suitable for marine aquariums, | | | | between the bulbs and the water, but you will still |
| you absolutely must avoid the type of metal halide | | | | need to use fans or a commercial chiller. Chillers can |
| bulbs that are found in commercial buildings and | | | | cost $500 or more, so this may not be a good |
| parking lots. | | | | option for you. But fans are acceptable for cooling if |
| Saltwater Aquarium Lighting for Fish-Only Systems | | | | you cannot afford the added expense of a chiller. |