Aquarium lighting is not just used for decoration so that you can see your fishes clearly during the night. They are also needed and are an important part of a reef aquarium. The proper lighting in an aquarium allows corals and invertebrates to survive. Light for these creatures is needed as their source of photosynthesis so they can generate more energy and food. Without it they will wither and die. So the lighting should be treated as an essential part of an aquarium.
Lightings for an aquarium can be divided in four main types. They are the fluorescent lighting, compact fluorescent lighting, incandescent lighting and metal halide lighting. The basic parts in an aquarium lighting system are the hoods, timers, reflectors, shields and ballasts.
For a living room set up, fluorescent lighting is the ideal lighting to use. Fluorescent bulbs are also very safe and energy-efficient and are ideal for tropical fish. Fluorescent lights come in different wattages, colors and lengths and are rated according to milliamp.
Compact fluorescent lighting is similar to fluorescent lighting but is much more powerful, energy-efficient and a great source for high-intensity lighting. It is the ideal aquarium lighting for deeper tanks.
On the other hand, for both small and big aquariums Incandescent lighting is ideal because of its versatile and inexpensive qualities. For small aquariums such type of lighting is very advantageous because it can fit different types of bulbs into it but in a deeper aquarium, this type of lighting becomes a disadvantage because the brightness of light is inadequate and bulb life is short.
But if you are looking for a more compact and aesthetic appeal and don't like fluorescent lights then a metal halide lighting may be the right fit for you. This type of lighting is very popular for reef or planted aquarium as it can really give an intensive light source. Its bulbs come in different colors and temperatures can produce a considerable amount of heat that is very useful in raising the temperatures of the aquarium water.
In choosing the right basic parts in an aquarium lighting system, hoods that easily open up with ease would be the practical choice while glass hoods are ideal for aquariums that have a sophisticated mix-and-match lighting system. Metal Halide lamps which produce harmful UV radiation and high emissions of heat should have built-in fans and UV absorbent filters.
Timers are devices that automatically turn an aquarium lighting system on and off at the same time every day. Timers can also control lighting hoods that are fitted with electronic ballasts.
Reflectors are used to direct light where it is needed. You can choose between the two basic types. They are the divergent and convergent. These two types either scatter or focus right amount light rays into the aquarium.
A shield is piece of glass that keeps water away from the bulbs and also helps prevent glass from falling into the aquarium if a bulb should break. It also keeps heat away from the water and reduces the damage caused by UV emissions.
Then ballasts are used to regulate the voltage from the regular source. They prevent burn-out bulbs and fires.
So, you see, there are a lot of choices, a lot of parts to choose from and to consider, so that you can get the right aquarium lighting. But always remember that they are not only used to make your aquarium look good and that each type of lighting functions differently and is compatible to different aquarium sizes. So choose well.
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