| Mostly pet fish is kept indoors and in all | | | | types of fish you have. |
| probabilities where the ambiance is with low | | | | Requirements of aquarium light by plants and |
| intensity or subdued lighting effects. Therefore | | | | other living organisms |
| the lighting is more important for your aquarium | | | | Generally a thumb rule for aquarium light is that |
| as you would like to make your pets most | | | | you should be able to provide about 3 watts of |
| comfortable, capable of being admired, and | | | | light per one gallon water - thus around 30 watt |
| maintain a healthy life span. Remember that this | | | | for a normal size aquarium. The live items other |
| health aspect is required for nearly 12 hours per | | | | than fish such as plants, ferns, rocks and coral etc |
| day for keeping the environment as natural as | | | | also need proper aquarium light to survive and |
| possible, supplying necessary medium for growth | | | | one must judge the total hours of lighting needed |
| or manufacture of natural chemicals etc. A ready | | | | through experience. If you are noticing growth of |
| made aquarium light accompanies a completely | | | | algae then the light is too much and if you find |
| assembled fish tank and in order to ensure the | | | | that the ferns are loosing color, the light needs to |
| amount of natural light simulation, you only have | | | | be increased. Keep track of the deterioration in |
| to install a suitable timer. This way you are | | | | the intensity of light as bulbs (incandescent and |
| satisfied that neither too much nor too little light is | | | | fluorescent) loose their power over a period of |
| available to your fish and they will have a healthy | | | | time. |
| existence. This also is valid for the live plants, live | | | | Other factors in providing aquarium light |
| coral and rocks you have for decorative effects. | | | | Some salt water fish tanks require a different |
| Which type of aquarium light is best? | | | | arrangement of light bulbs or tubes and one must |
| There are basically two types of lights available | | | | properly design the hoods so that they can be |
| for aquariums. These are either incandescent or | | | | flexible for both saltwater fish and fresh water |
| fluorescent lighting systems. The experts and | | | | species. Double tubes or bulbs are suitable for |
| experienced users always show a preference for | | | | general saltwater fish variety. |
| the latter type of aquarium light as it comes | | | | Finally one must not forget that keeping fish is a |
| nearest to the natural illumination. This apart the | | | | pet hobby and everyone desires their fish tank to |
| assembly must be of the hood type as that helps | | | | look attractive and better than the neighbors or |
| in not only keeping the tank clean, but also | | | | friends! Aquarium light that is specifically called |
| ensures that the fish cannot jump out or the | | | | "designer's lighting" has become popular in recent |
| aquarium! | | | | times and is installed inside living rocks, gravel, |
| The incandescent light is not really suitable and the | | | | between ferns etc to give an attractive effect |
| one with halogen lamps should be completely | | | | that is pleasing to the human eye - though the |
| avoided as it can give hot spots in the fish tank | | | | fish may not totally be in agreement with this |
| resulting in damage or death of the sensitive | | | | observation! |