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Aquarium Lighting and Hoods



 

Aquarium Lighting and Hoods

Aquarium lighting is an essential component of any system; however, selecting the correct fixture for your setup can be daunting. A general rule of thumb is the deeper the tank, the more intense the light source; this is because rays of light do not penetrate easily through water.
 
      

 See All Aquarium Hoods and Lighting

         

Bulb Type Bulb Life Watts Kelvin Rating Benefits Downfalls
Incandescent 2-4 months 7-25 Depends on bulb color Wide variety of colors, very inexpensive High heat, low intensity, limited spectrum
Standard Fluorescent 6-18 months 15-40 3000-20000; actinic Cost effective, wide variety of colors and sizes, cool running Not the best for invertebrates and plants.
Compact Fluorescent 12-28 months 10-130 5000-10000; actinic Compact, long lasting, intense light, wide spectrum Runs hot, may necessitate a chiller
T-5 HO Fluorescent 16-24 months 24-54 6000-11000; actinic Intense light, cool running, long lasting Work best in shallow aquariums
VHO Fluorescent 4-18 months 75-165 10000; actinic Long lasting, wide variety of sizes Runs hot, may necessitate a chiller
Metal Halide 6-18 months 70-1000 3000-20000 Wide spectrum range, highest intensity available Runs hot, may necessitate a chiller, possible UV radiation
LED Moon/ Lunar Light N/A, not a light, but a Light Emitting Diode Approximately 1 N/A Mimics nocturnal lighting, low wattage None