Marine aquarium led lighting upgrade#
Marine aquarium led lighting full#

Easier to upgrade and add more lighting if necessary.Short lifespan, bulbs should be changes every 9-12 months.More expensive than LED and T8 lighting but better value in the long run.In order to help explain the differences and similarities of both bulbs, here is a helpful list: T5 and T8 lighting come in the form of fluorescent tubes that are 5/8th inch to 1 inch in diameter and come in many different outputs and lengths.

These types of bulbs may be found in similar color ratings as the metal halide bulbs we previously mentioned. There are several different kinds of fluorescent lighting two of the most popular kinds are T5 and T8 bulbs.

Without sufficient lighting, corals may not survive.

Marine aquarium led lighting full#

Fluorescents display a more intense light and they are best used in soft coral reefs and full reef aquariums. It’s essential to know what lighting requirements your tank inhabitants require. If you are looking for another type of lighting, high intensity fluorescents may be considered. For every 2-3 feet of tank, it is recommended to have one halide bulb. If you ever needed to change the distance from your light source to the water surface, it would be a simple task.Ģ50-watt bulbs will work best in most aquariums unless the aquarium is deeper than 24′ and in that case, 400-watt bulbs would provide better light penetration. Because this light source can be hung from a ceiling or wall above the aquarium, a benefit to metal halides is that they can be easily adjusted. These lamps are able to penetrate the water at deeper levels compared to fluorescent and LED lighting. One of the most popular and natural looking lighting sources for most marine aquariums would be the metal halide lamp. Natural sunlight as a means for aquarium light is undesirable due to its yellow tint, low spectrum of lighting, and problems with unwanted algae. Your aquarium should be placed away from direct sunlight and places where there are fluctuating temperatures.

Shallow water species should be kept under 10000K lamps while deepwater species would prefer 20000K lighting.

Photo synthetic invertebrates should be kept under lamps rated at or near the Kelvin temperature where the invertebrate was collected.

Kelvin temperatures less than 5500 become more red and yellow and the higher the Kelvin temperature the bluer the light is.

Natural sunlight on a clear day registers at 5500 Kelvin degrees.

Light spectrum is measured by the Kelvin scale.

Here is some more information about light spectrum through water: There are many different color spectrums of lighting to choose from red, orange and yellow light will only penetrate a short distance in the water, while blue and white light will penetrate the deepest. Once you know what type of inhabitants will be living in your aquarium and you know the surface area and the depth of the tank, you can now move on to choosing the perfect lighting solution for your marine aquarium. If you are planning on setting up a marine aquarium, it’s imperative to know the differences between aquarium light sources and choose the one that will work best for your budget, your tank and your aquarium inhabitants.īefore you choose your marine aquarium lighting, there are many factors to be aware of and questions to ask yourself and most importantly, what type of aquarium are you planning to have: A balanced, safe and viable marine aquarium requires stringent water quality monitoring and distinct marine aquarium lighting. When you look at a marine aquarium, you will see beautiful bright colored fish, rocks, reef aquaria and other underwater inhabitants showcased in a clean and well-lit glass or acrylic tank.