| The lighting in your aquarium is required for a couple | | | | diameter. For use in cold water aquariums, you can |
| of reasons. First of all, good lighting is directly related | | | | go for lights with 1 inch diameter. You can also go for |
| to the health of your fish as well as of live plants you | | | | this option if you have a very small aquarium or you |
| have added inside the aquarium. Secondly, if you | | | | do not have live plants in your aquarium. You can use |
| have a large aquarium without enough lighting, it will | | | | some reflectors so that the intensity of light is |
| look very dull and boring. | | | | improved and you can get some focus whenever |
| So lighting is required in the aquarium but the main | | | | you want. |
| question is how much it should be. The second | | | | If you are planning for the marine aquarium then you |
| question is - which you lamps should you use. | | | | should go for metal halide type of lights. They can |
| Let us discuss the first question in detail. Lighting will | | | | give you a higher output and so they are more |
| directly depend on the size of your aquarium and the | | | | appropriate. Usually in marine aquariums, the |
| number of fish you are going to keep inside. If you | | | | inhabitants will require intense light. The size of such |
| are keeping only cold water fish, you may not require | | | | aquariums is also large. So halide lights will be |
| much lighting. However, if you are planning for a | | | | preferred. They are more expensive than the |
| tropical aquarium, it will naturally require good lighting. | | | | fluorescent lights but they are very powerful and |
| If you are planning for a marine aquarium with some | | | | they will emit light similar to natural light. |
| corals, you will require maximum lighting to make it | | | | Some people are interested in getting some visual |
| shining and attractive. | | | | effects in addition to lighting. In that case you should |
| The size and shape of the aquarium is also important. | | | | consult an expert and you may use a combination of |
| If you are planning a relatively deeper aquarium, you | | | | both metal halide and fluorescent lamps. |
| will require more lighting. The light should penetrate to | | | | Usually the fish are accustomed with 12 hours of |
| the bottom of the aquarium for effective display. | | | | lighting and 12 hours of darkness. You can install a |
| Usually, fluorescent tubes are used for lighting the | | | | timer switch so that this can be done automatically. |
| aquarium. They are available in various lengths as well | | | | Some expensive systems offer more sophisticated |
| as wattage. Now you should know some specific | | | | options like adjusting the lighting as per the lunar |
| terms relating to fluorescent lights. There are two | | | | cycle. This will help the spawning of fish as well as |
| types of such lights -1 inch diameter and 5/8 inches in | | | | corals. |