Don't Settle For Plain White Fluorescent Fish Tank Lights

Tag: Fish Tank Lights

Ultimately, the best way to create a stunning effect in your aquarium is to use different forms of fish tank lights. There are so many to choose from that sometimes it can be difficult to decide which ones to use. When you do find the right setup though, it can give you the most amazing looking fish tank.

The main form of lighting that you need will be your overhead lighting. At one time the only type available for this job was the white fluorescent tube. Now days you can buy hanging light fixtures which are especially good for marine tanks although they can be used on tropical tanks as well. There are two different ways to have hanging lights, the first is to bolt the light on and have it sat statically above the aquarium, the second way is again to bolt it onto the tank, but then have it pivoting so that you can move it if you wish to. When using this type of fixture it is imperative to ensure that you have glass covering the top of your tank to make sure that you reduce as much loss of water via condensation as you can. Hanging light units can use fluorescent bulbs, neon bulbs, or metal halide bulbs. Halide bulbs are very good to use as they are extremely bright, but do not hurt your eyes. When using these bulbs it is advised that you have a reflector behind them as this makes them more efficient and reflects all of the light into the water. Halide bulbs also promote growth on soft and hard coral and anemones. The other type of fish tank light, which is probably still the most common, is the fluorescent light. It usually comes built into a hood which sits on the top of the tank. These lights are mostly used on tropical tanks. Replacement bulbs are easy to find and they come in all different lengths, wattages and also in most colors.

An effective way to show off a particular fish or color in your aquarium is to buy a colored light. Almost every color is available to buy at a good fish tank supplies store. You could even color co-ordinate your gravel and lighting. If you sprinkle neon gravel over the top of your ordinary gravel then the different colored bulbs will reflect off of the neon gravel creating a fantastic look, especially at night. As with the gravel, colored lighting reflects wonderfully off of bubble walls and ornaments.

LED and submersible lighting is a marvellous way to create a wonderful look in different parts of the tank. LED lights can come either individually or in canisters, usually with four LED lights per canister. They can be placed in ornaments, on top of the gravel or in coral. The individual ones are especially good for this as they can be placed in castles and rocks giving off a subtle reflection. Submersible tubes are great for block lighting. They are just one tube and you can position them anywhere under the water, again these lights come in a variety of different colors.

An ultraviolet light can also prove to be a good buy. This is just a black canister with a UV light inside it, known as a sterilising light. It doesn’t give off any visible light; instead the water goes into the canister and around the light which kills off any bacteria. These lights are also great for increasing plant growth and keeping your tank crystal clear.

All of these fixtures can be found at any good fish tank supplies store and they can make your aquarium look amazing and become a real talking point. You no longer have to settle for the standard fluorescent bulb supplied with your tank. Use your imagination and try different types of fish tank lights to create a stunning overall effect.