Aquarium Lighting Requirements

Identification

• To properly light an aquarium, you must first be able to identify aquarium lighting. There are special aquarium lights, specifically designed for lighting the aquarium to the necessary brightness, depending on your needs. Identifying aquarium lighting is as simple as shopping in a pet store and ensuring what you are buying says "for use in aquariums" or is sold in the aquarium section of a pet supply store.

Types

• There are many types of aquariums to light the lighting can be broken into a few categories. Aquariums with only fish and decorative artificial plants can use a standard or compact fluorescent system and you only need one to two watts per gallon. If you have a freshwater planted aquarium that includes fish, live plants and decorative elements, choose a compact fluorescent or metal halide lighting system that will provide somewhere between two and five watts per gallon.
  If you have a marine reef aquarium that includes fish, corals, live rock and invertebrates, pick a power compact or metal halide lighting system that will provide four to eight watts of light per gallon. Corals require high amounts of light, as they rely on light for their nutrition.
  It's important to note that there are specific types of bulbs for freshwater and saltwater. Pay careful attention to the spectrum or color temperature of the bulbs. Using a saltwater bulb on a freshwater tank, or vice versa, will not give you the best results.

Function

• The function of aquarium lighting is to illuminate your aquarium space, dependent on the needs of the inhabitants. Aquarium lighting comes in many wattages and sizes, ensuring that you have the right amount of brightness, heat and safety. Aquarium lighting is designed for use in humid environments.

Misconceptions

• Unfortunately, many people buy animals or plants for an aquarium and assume that the light that came with it, or the natural light in the room, will be enough to keep the plants and animals alive. This is not necessarily true. Spending time to research the needs of plants and corals will help ensure a healthy aquarium.

Risks

• Identifying your lighting as aquarium safe lighting is important; otherwise you could send electrical shocks through the water, hurting the residents or even yourself. There is also a risk of over or under lighting your aquarium, which is why you need to ensure that you have the proper lighting for your specific size tank and then only purchase animals that can easily live within these parameters.