The Difference in Aquarium Lighting

There are many options for lighting your aquarium. The most important thing to consider is the light requirements and restrictions of the fish and plants you keep.

  1. Incandescent

    • Many aquarium owners enjoy the wide variety of colors incandescent lighting offers. Specialty bulbs can be purchased for supporting plant growth or making colors stand out on certain varieties of fish. However, these bulbs tend to burn out quickly and produce a lot of heat.

    Fluorescent

    • Fluorescent bulbs are long narrow tube lights that are the most common type of lighting sold with starter aquarium kits. They are the safest of the lighting options as they produce very little heat.

    Compact

    • Compact lights often come as part of an aquarium hood. They provide the best depth of light and are extremely energy efficient. Compact bulbs provide a very bright tank and last much longer than other lighting options.

    Metal Halide

    • Metal halide lighting provides a beautiful and natural rippling light. It is available in a spectrum of colors ranging from yellow to blue. This type of lighting produces heat that can affect your aquarium's water temperature.

    Natural Sunlight

    • Many advanced aquarium keepers prefer natural sunlight as the primary source of light. This is very difficult to moderate properly and not a suitable choice for most beginners.