Aquarium lighting refers to any artificial lighting which is utilized to illuminate an aquarium tank. There are two types of aquarium lighting; those provided by electricity and those which are self-correcting. In the case of self-correcting aquarium lighting, the aquarium fluorescent bulb is used. This kind of aquarium lighting does not consume any electricity but merely alters the color of the aquarium water through chemical reactions.
Aquarium lighting with the use of aquarium lighting tubes is a popular method in which to provide artificial light to aquarium tanks. These tubes are enclosed and contain several light-emitting diodes (LED’s) at various distances. The depth of these LED lights can be adjusted to vary the amount of light the fish will obtain during daytime or to give them the kind of light they prefer at night. The length of the aquarium lighting tubes can be up to sixty feet.
Most aquarium lighting systems also include additional equipment which enables the operator to change the kelvin (or temperature) of the fluorescent lamp that is powering the unit. The kelvin is the term given to the degree of warmth that the fish are adapted to, ranging from ten percent to forty percent. If the kelvin rating of the fluorescent bulb is greater than twenty percent, it will generate its light energy at a blue-green color temperature. On the other hand, if the kelvin rating is lower than ten percent, the light will become red. Aquarium fish tend to adapt to the environment in which they live so the higher the kelvin temperature, the more intense the colors of the fish will be.
The two types of aquarium lighting that use fluorescent tubes are most often used for the tank only. In this case, the aquarium lighting system has been built so that it will provide the proper intensity and color temperature necessary for marine life to flourish. A second type of system uses natural sunlight to provide the intensity needed. This is also popular in homes with smaller aquatic plants and animals. It is important to note that natural sunlight will not always provide the intensity necessary.
When you are ready to purchase aquarium lighting for your tank, you will need to take into account both the size and the shape of the tank as well as the level of light your new additions will need. You should keep in mind that fish will require different levels of light in order to function properly. Larger fish will generally require more light while marine corals will grow better if their light is more low intensity. There are fluorescent lights designed specifically for fish as well as those designed for marine or plant life.
Most hobbyists are familiar with fluorescent aquarium lighting. Most people have at least one aquarium featuring one of these tubes. Fluorescent lighting is the most common and inexpensive way to provide aquarium lighting. Because it is so cheap to purchase, it is often purchased by hobbyists to use in conjunction with their other aquarium lighting.
The majority of hobbyists begin their aquarium lighting systems by using tubes. These can be purchased in pre-assembled or unfilled sizes. You can find these in a variety of colors and intensity levels as well as shapes. However, it is recommended that you purchase a set of tubes that you can use for both general and special purposes. This will allow you to change out tanks as new additions or simply to adjust the intensity of the overall lighting system.
The use of fluorescent tubes has increased tremendously due to the advent of LED lighting. The biggest advantage of using these bulbs over traditional ones is the fact that they do not burn out as quickly as incandescent lamps do. In addition to this, they give off nearly no heat which makes them great for use in aquarium lighting systems. Once you have taken these factors into consideration, it is time to determine which aquarium lighting system works best for you and your tank. As always, consult an expert when deciding which aquarium lighting supplies to use.
