Lighting plays a huge part in aquariums, not just to enhance the beauty of your tank but also to help your fish interact with one another and find their food. Light fixtures and bulbs for fish tanks come in different color spectrums and intensities to meet the specific needs of the living organisms in your tank, whether they're fish or plants. Light bulbs for fish tanks are intended for two types of aquariums:
When choosing light bulbs for fish tanks, keep the size of your tank in mind, as that will also determine how strong your lighting should be. You will need light bulbs with higher K ratings if you have living plants or coral, or you can supplement with separate grow lights.
The best aquarium lights for fish tanks depend on their Kelvin rating. Saltwater tank light bulbs need higher K ratings to produce blue wavelength light. Freshwater light bulbs range between 5,500 and 8,000 Kelvin to mimic natural sunlight.
Fish tanks need light bulbs specifically designed for aquariums since your average household light bulb will not be strong or bright enough for your fish and plants.
The best light for aquarium plants depends on the type of plants you have and your tank size since the deeper the tank, the harder it is for light to reach the bottom. It's estimated that low-intensity plants need 15–25 lumens per liter, medium-intensity plants need 25–50 lumens, and high-intensity plants need 50 and above.
You can use a standard fluorescent bulb to light fish-only freshwater and saltwater aquariums. However, depending on your setup, you may need several bulbs to provide adequate lighting for your fish.
The lifespan of aquarium light bulbs depends on the type of light you're using. Standard fluorescent lights will probably need to be replaced every 10 to 12 months, while LED lights are expected to last several years. You can also set your lights on a timer so they're on for six to 10 hours a day to extend their lifespan.
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