| A topic that is not discussed very often is | | | | the depth of the aquarium itself. Checking the |
| aquarium lighting for reef tanks. Although this topic | | | | depth is important as light can only penetrate so |
| is not discussed very much it is very important | | | | far into water before the colour is removed. It is |
| within a salt water reef tank. | | | | amazing how quickly water can remove colour |
| After water quality the next most important thing | | | | from light. |
| is aquarium lighting for reef tanks, followed closely | | | | The depth of your aquarium as well as the corals |
| by water movement. | | | | you keep will determine which type of lighting you |
| Water quality gives the tank stability as well as | | | | require. For example, if you keep soft corals then |
| providing the corals with the essential elements. | | | | you could possibly just use fluorescent tubes. |
| Aquarium lighting provides the corals with energy | | | | However, if you keep short polyp stony corals |
| which they then use to grow. Water movement | | | | then metal halide lighting will be required. The |
| allows nutrients to be delivered to the corals for | | | | depth needs to be checked because if you have |
| them to feed upon, as well as washing away | | | | a deep aquarium then the colour might not |
| waste. Water movement is also essential when | | | | penetrate to the bottom of the aquarium. Water |
| natural filtration is used in the reef tank. | | | | has the ability to be able to strip out colour at an |
| Inside all corals are millions upon millions of what is | | | | amazing rate, therefore if you have a deep |
| called symbiotic algae. The only exceptions are | | | | aquarium you will need lighting of enough power |
| those corals which are classified as | | | | to be able to push the light to the bottom of the |
| non-photosynthetic. These obtain their energy | | | | aquarium. |
| from feeding rather than from light itself. | | | | Another component of aquarium lighting for reef |
| Photosynthetic corals obtain their primary source | | | | tanks which needs to be considered is that of |
| of energy from light and then also actively feed | | | | Kelvin. Kelvin is the colour output and the higher |
| to obtain more energy. The symbiotic algae within | | | | the rating in the Kelvin scale the bluer the light will |
| the corals obtain energy from the light and then | | | | be. At the other end of the scale the lower the |
| pass this energy on to the coral itself - a match | | | | rating the more yellow/red it will be. Normally in a |
| made in heaven! | | | | reef aquarium a Kelvin rating of 10,000K to |
| Different corals have different lighting | | | | 13,000K is utilised. This is a white/blue colour which |
| requirements. For example, short polyp stony | | | | replicates life on the reef at a depth of about |
| corals require much more intense lighting than soft | | | | 30m. |
| corals do. | | | | When placing corals into your reef aquarium you |
| When choosing aquarium lighting for reef tanks | | | | will need to first check what their lighting |
| you need to check two things in your reef tank. | | | | requirements are and then place them at the |
| The first is the corals themselves, so that you | | | | bottom of the reef tank and slowly move them |
| can ascertain their requirements, and the other is | | | | up over time until they are in their final position. |