Aquarium lighting is one of the most important choices of equipment in a reef or fish only aquarium. An often overlooked aspect of keeping a healthy fish tank or reef aquarium tank, your aquariums lighting does not only affect the coloration of your specimens, but it deals with the timing of reproduction cycles, the food requirements, and the aquariums algae tank production.

For aquarium fish, the proper lighting is nescessary to provide certain nutritional requirements nescessary and it effects the reproduction cycle. It will directly affect the coloration for the fish in your aquarium.

In reef tanks with live coral and invertebrates such as anemones and clams, the proper lighting intensity is required for your corals or invertebrates to be healthy. Many corals feed using a system called photosynthesis, and the proper lighting is nescessary to generate energy and good health. If your corals and invertebrates do not received enough light for a healthy photosynthesis, they will do poorly and eventually not survive.

For aquarium fish systems, the best aquarium lighting is Power Compacts. They come in many sizes and power ratings.

For live coral, generally, the VHO (Very High Output) fluorescent and PC (Power Compact) fluorescent lighting systems are great for aquarium corals that require low to moderate lighting, such as leather corals, mushrooms, polyps, and LPS corals.

Metal Halide systems and extreme output Power compacts and VHO systems are best for corals that require intense lighting. SPS corals, clams, and carpet anemones would best survive in a system with metal halide lighting.

Many hobbyists will supplement metal halide lights with VHO or powercompact bulbs to simulate a dusk/dawn effect and to add more blue coloration to the tank. Moonlights can also be added for nightime viewing and beautiful nightime affects.

Aquatic Connection carries a full line of the best brands of aquarium lighting. Choose below and call us if you have any questions when ordering. We will gladly help you with such an important choice.