Moonlight Aquarium Lighting

Home > Uncategorized > Moonlight Aquarium Lighting

April 17th, 2008 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Moonlight Aquarium Lighting

Choosing the Appropriate Lighting for your Fish Tank

If you are an aquarium newbie, then you will need some tips when it comes to preparing the tank. When it comes to successful fish tanks, there are many things that need to be decided in advance, the tank size, filtration and circulation, and of course lighting, which is essential. The goal of any aquarium lighting is to basically recreate the natural Habitat of your fish. It is extremely important to create both a night and a day for your living organisms, because just like humans your fish would be under extreme stress if they got too much “daylight” or vise versa. The day/light cycle is imperative.

HOW TO DETERMINE WHAT LIGHTING IS NEEDED

The intensity of your aquarium lighting affects the health, stress, coloration, photosynthesis, and reproduction of your living organisms. The creatures that came from shaded regions such as rain forest rivers do not require intense day light. They probably won’t need a full 12 hours of light. Of course there are high light organisms that come from tropical areas as well. These guys are used to getting intense daylight for sometimes longer than 12 hours. Aquatic plants and anything else that lives in shadow, tropical waters will need intense lighting systems. When it comes to what lights to use, fluorescents or incandescent bulbs, ask your local aquarium experts, it all depends where your fish come from.

PLANNING A LIGHT CYCLE

When it comes to daylight, never place fish tanks under direct sunlight. It seems logical but in most cases it causes overheating, speeds up algae growth, and instigates a series of related problems. The sun’s direct waves lack wavelengths that are essential to the positive health of your fish. What you will need to do is set up a lighting system. It is recommended to get a hood or kit with bulbs built in to make installation fast and easy.

Regarding the nighttime, most natural environments do not experience pitch black when night falls. Instead, there is a constant moonlight that bears a low-intensity glow. For lighting at night, you can find lunar LED bulbs that are usually included in fish tank fixtures. These are the best source for aquarium night lighting. They provide sufficient illumination for nocturnal fish while never disturbing your resting organisms. Functioning as a night light, these lamps also promote good heath and natural behaviors like spawning.

To sum up, it is crucial to light your fish tank in terms of days and nights, sunlight, and moonlight. A thriving aquarium will be properly light with the most reasonable day/night cycles for its environment. One great tip for beginners and experts alike is to get a lighting timer. That way your scheduled lighting will be consistent and perfect. Based on your aquatic organisms, make sure you choose the best lighting for your fish tank.

About the Author