| When choosing your fish tank lights, the types of | | | | very large tanks filled with deep-sea fish and |
| fish or other organisms that you have in your fish | | | | other organisms that would otherwise not be at |
| tank or aquarium will decide which type of lighting | | | | the surface of the water. |
| is most appropriate. Some lights are best for | | | | If you are looking to give your fish some artificial |
| fresh water fish, while others are better for | | | | moonlight, you will not be looking at bulbs that |
| those that live in salt water. Even more | | | | even register in the Kelvins. These types are |
| complicated is that some lighting is best for | | | | usually special LED lights. Moonlight LED bulbs are |
| anemones or other organisms or even plants that | | | | usually not for the casual aquarium owner unless |
| you may keep in a tank. | | | | they are looking to keep their organisms in a |
| It is important to get a light that is appropriate for | | | | completely natural light cycle or are looking to |
| what you are keeping in your tank so that the | | | | breed them. |
| organisms live as close to a life as they would out | | | | The most common fish tank bulbs are |
| in the wild. Think about it this way: if the sun | | | | fluorescent, usually within the normal output to |
| came on at irrational times of the day and was | | | | very high output ranges. These are very |
| either too bright or not bright enough, would you | | | | effective for normal-sized tanks and can range |
| function properly? Chances are you would not, | | | | from 5,500 to 10,000 Kelvins. Normal output |
| and your fish tank organisms are no different. So | | | | fluorescent lights should only be used for shallow |
| along with choosing the right type of lighting | | | | tanks containing fresh water fish, while high or |
| source, you should also be sure to turn the fish | | | | very high output fluorescent lighting is best for |
| tank lights on and off when appropriate in order | | | | freshwater tanks that contain fish and |
| for your little aquatic friends to live as | | | | underwater plant life or for tanks that contain |
| comfortably as possible. | | | | only salt water fish. Alternatively, power compact |
| Fish tank lights are rated in Kelvins, which | | | | fluorescent lights are great for any type of fish |
| measures the color temperature of the light that | | | | and any tank size as long as the Kelvins are high |
| is given off. The lowest rating is 5,500 Kelvins | | | | enough. Choose your fish tank lights depending on |
| when shopping for aquarium lights, and they are | | | | what exactly the types of fish you have are, as |
| best for shallow or small fresh water tanks. | | | | well as how normal of a lifecycle you would like |
| Above that, lights can go all the way up to 20,000 | | | | them to have. |
| Kelvins -- though 20,000 Kelvin lights are best for | | | | |