Setting up a successful marine aquarium can take a lot of research and planning, as there’s so much to think about. Even if you already know which corals and livestock you want, there’s still heaters, powerheads, pumps, filters, and the all-important lighting to consider, in order to get your tank functioning perfectly.

Selecting the right lighting is one of the most important decisions you will make. Of course, the retail staff where you make your purchase will be ready to give you the benefit of their knowledge, but it’s always helpful to have some background information up your sleeve. Here’s the basic points to know for picking the right reef tank lighting.  

Firstly, the lights are an essential part of the tank’s ecosystem, and are not merely for aesthetic purposes to help show off the contents. This is because corals are photosynthetic organisms, which need light to manufacture essential nutrients in order to live. Therefore, lights are a non-negotiable part of the set-up, which should be kept in full working order.

The intensity of the lighting should be the first point to consider. This will depend largely on the size of the tank. If it is underlit, the contents will struggle to maintain a healthy level of photosynthesis. On the other hand, if it is too strongly lit, the water can become overheated, and the corals may even be burned.

To get to the more technical stuff, the algae which are essential for the corals to live require light waves, which is known as photosynthetic active radiation, or PAR. This refers to the light spectrum, which is separate from the intensity of the light. The manufacturer should provide the PAR spectrum, so that you can make an informed choice.

Most corals prefer a moderate level of light, on a spectrum of 150 to 250 PAR. Many LED aquarium lights will allow you to adjust the level of PAR output, so that you can dim or turn up the levels according to the size and contents of your tank. You will find that some brands offer a remote programmer, so you can easily and precisely adjust the levels.

Remember that most corals thrive on consistency of light levels, so you should tweak or refine rather than make abrupt or extreme changes to your light spectrum. Many reef tank owners prefer to use LED lighting options, because they are energy efficient, and offer advanced WIFI enabled remote control devices.

A more traditional form of reef tank light is the metal halide light, which are tubular bulbs encased in glass. They provide a very intense light, which is good for reaching the depths of larger tanks. For this reason, they are more often used in commercial display aquariums rather than in home-based setups.

Another type of light to consider is the T5 light, which is very popular with hobbyists. These lights are considered to give very reliable results when it comes to growing healthy corals, due to the range of colour, spectrums, and intensity that is available for T5 bulbs.

 

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