Reef Aquarium Lighting-What Those in the Hobby Should Know

Aquarium Lighting
Oftentimes, one of the areas that is confusing and quite expensive is lighting your aquarium. A marine tank needs to have the proper light for your corals, anemones, and clams, for example, to thrive. If your tank is a fish only tank, then you can get away with pretty much any kind of light that is suited to your personal taste, but if you have other delicate creatures, they need great lighting to suit their tastes and to keep the photosynthesis process going.

The symbiotic relationship between corals and algae, for example, depends on light. If the algae that lives in the tissue of corals gets enough light, then they produce food which the coral can eat. If the coral is happy, then the algae remains protected from harm. So as you can see, in this one example, you need to choose the correct lighting to have success. To get a very detailed explanation of which lights to choose, then see the article entitled, "Ho! Ho! Ho! - Let’s Light 'em Up!", in the Reefkeeping online magazine.

But what it comes down is this, which kind of light or lights are needed to keep your little world of the ocean alive and well? Should you use Metal Halide lights, flourescents, or LED lights? Should you use a combination. Please check out the above article. It rambles on, but it is very detailed and the author even gives his recommendations as to what combinations of lights work the best.

Happy Reefing,

Chris