You will have to put in quite a bit if research to determine the kind of lighting that’s right for your needs. Before deciding on your lights, you have to take into consideration such factors as the size and depth of your aquarium, whether or not you plan to have any plant life, and the lighting needs of any special kinds of fish. The information here will give you a start.
Whether your aquarium is new or a used one, there will be an existing light fixture in the hood as well as provisions to add more aquarium lighting. There are many types of bulbs you can consider for your fish tank. The most commonly used ones are fluorescent. In fluorescent bulbs, there are very high output (VHO), high output (HO), regular and compact. Then there are other obscure forms of bulbs such as metal halide and LED. As is obvious, the greater the output of the bulb, the more expensive it will be to buy, maintain, and replace.
Once you decide on the kind of bulb you want, the most important thing to consider is the wattage. In short, wattage is a measurement of brightness of the light.
Deciding on Wattage
The wattage should be measured based on the amount of water. The term used is watts per gallon. If you have a fish-only aquarium, then 1 to 2 watts per gallon is all you need. If your design includes plants, then you should go for 2 to 5 watts per gallon. The logic is that the deeper into the water that light has to penetrate, the weaker it becomes. Ergo, more water equals higher wattage. Some plants may have special lighting needs and you may need more than 4 watts per gallon. If that is so, it is highly recommended that you speak to a professional to gauge your exact requirements.
Visit http://spacehaggis.com/ for more information on the kinds of lighting you can buy for your aquarium.
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