| It's amazing how the quality of your freshwater | | | | These types of tanks will have live plants along |
| aquarium can be directly related to the quality of | | | | with fish, so the lighting requirements will need to |
| your lighting system. Your lighting must be correct | | | | be more regulated. You can use many types of |
| (as far as the intensity and the spectrum of the | | | | fluorescents here, but also the metal halide lighting. |
| light) or it affects the survival of the plants, and | | | | The metal halide lights are mostly used for |
| the fish in your tank. | | | | freshwater aquariums that are more than 2 feet |
| The end goal of your lighting system is to | | | | deep. Mostly you'll need this type of lighting |
| duplicate what the natural environment of your | | | | because of the plants. In the wild, aquatic plants |
| fish was. It's gotten easier and easier to do this | | | | will be growing in South and Central America, and |
| with the advancement of lighting these days, | | | | come from murky shallow areas. But they get full |
| especially as far as fluorescent lighting goes. | | | | spectrum light there. |
| The big thing to remember is that all lighting | | | | So the plants will require between 2 and 5 watts |
| systems will generate heat. But the new | | | | per gallon of tank size. But what happens here is |
| fluorescent lights tend to keep cooler than might | | | | that there will be more heat generated, so you'll |
| lights. | | | | need to regulate the temperature more closely. |
| But the more powerful the light is, the more | | | | Occasionally you'll need a small fan for cooling. Or |
| important it will be to keep your aquarium in a | | | | you'll need to raise the lighting fixture above the |
| temperature-controlled room in order to easily | | | | tank to allow more air circulation. |
| balance the temperature of your aquarium. | | | | Recommended lighting for freshwater aquariums: |
| Fish-Only Aquariums | | | | - Standard fluorescents |
| If you have only fish in your aquarium, meaning | | | | - Power compact fluorescents |
| that there can also be artificial plants and wood or | | | | - T-5 HO fluorescents |
| ceramics, you'll only need a fluorescent lighting | | | | - VHO fluorescents |
| system. A standard or a compact fluorescent | | | | - Metal halide |
| system will be sufficient. | | | | Some of these lights, especially the fluorescents |
| A fish-only aquarium requires only 1 or 2 watts of | | | | will generate more heat than other, and the larger |
| power per gallon of tank size. In a fish-only tank, | | | | ones will be for large aquariums only. The |
| it's easier to regulate the lighting and temperature | | | | spectrums will vary with each. It's best to talk to |
| because you're mostly dealing with some | | | | your local fish store about the size of your tank, |
| stationery objects and some fish. | | | | if it's planted with live plants and your needs. |
| For all tanks, you'll want to get special aquarium | | | | He'll be able to make recommendations on the |
| fluorescent lights. If you buy your fluorescent | | | | type of lighting system that you'll need to keep |
| lights at a regular hardware store, it encourages | | | | you happy and your fish and live plants happy, |
| the growth of brown algae. | | | | too. |
| Freshwater Aquariums with Live Plants | | | | |