Friday, December 18, 2009

Choosing the Right Lighting For Your Fish Tank

By Linda Marshall

More people have taken to keeping aquariums in their houses and the reasons vary from one person to another. Among the common reasons is the beautification of their houses. In fish keeping, an important aspect is the lighting of the aquarium, which is a challenging factor for some beginners.

This uncertainty usually stems from the fact that there are different lights that can be used in one's fish tank. The different types of lights that can be used are metal halide, vho (very high output) fluorescent, regular fluorescent lights, compact fluorescent, LED -Light Emitting Diodes -LED and high fluorescent.

The type of fish to be kept in the aquarium determines the kind of lighting that is needed. A single lamp can be used if the number of fish to be kept is small. Despite the lighting used in the fish tank, it is important to know that the light will only be required by the fish at specific times.

This is because too much light will be intolerable while too little of it will make them lose their color and feel listless as well. One should also go for lamps that with the ability to give out more red tone lighting that is the best option for illuminating the fish. Incandescent lighting is the best for this type of aquarium as it offers various bulb strengths and colors.

To establish the kind of lighting that is needed for one's tank, the depth of the tank is a key consideration. Deep tanks require more lighting and the best lighting for these is metal halide. Compact bulbs are the most appropriate for these types of aquariums. They last for a long tome and are economical. People who have plants inside their aquariums have to be more careful when choosing their lighting.

The reason behind this is that fish plants are affected by light and if the lighting is poor the plants will grow poorly or cease from growing. When deciding on the right lamp to use, make it a priority to purchase lamps that have red wavelength emissions. The next factor to consider is the cost of the aquarium lighting; the prices of the lamps will vary depending on the lighting selected. Keep in mind that plants and fish tend to be healthy when in a properly lit environment. Furthermore, the aesthetic appeal of the fish tank is enhanced. - 16887

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