High Light
High Light
Lighting For Your Reef Tank
Proper lighting is one of the most important factors for the success of your reef tank. Reef tanks contain corals, and corals are photosensitive. These beautifully colored aquatic animals require light to thrive in their own habitat. Naturally, they absorb the sunrays that enter into the water. Hence, the lighting arrangement you provide must at least try to replicate their natural environment. Then, esthetics comes into play too. Without the right kind of lighting, you will not be able to do proper justice to the inhabitants of your reef tank.
The first thing to consider about lighting up reef tanks is how much light you will be needing. The amount of light depends in a major way on the types of corals you are using in the tank. If your corals are photosensitive, then you will certainly need more light. Photosensitive corals can even die in the absence of proper lighting. Reef lighting must be ideally 4 to 6 watts per gallon if the tank houses mostly low light sensitivity coral, but it must be up to 10 watts per gallon if the coral is highly light sensitive. At the same time, the depth of the tank is also to be taken into account. Since all kinds of aquarium reef lighting are placed on top of the tank, their intensity will decrease as the light travels downwards. That is why taller reef tanks must have more intense lights than the squat ones.
The most popular kinds of lighting available for reef tanks are the fluorescent tubes. The VHO (Very High Output) fluorescent tubes are the most commonly used. These tubes produce light that is very close to natural light, and hence they are well suited to reef tanks. They produce very good intensities too (110 watts per 4 feet), which make them an economical choice. The VHO fluorescent tubes spread the light very evenly within the tank, which is good for temperature distribution. VHO fluorescent tubes are available in two natural colors - the full spectrum white (also known as the daylight tubes) that imitates sunlight and the actinic blue that closely resembles the bluish color of the ocean bottom. It is a good idea to buy a reef light that is a mixture of 50% of spectrum and 50% of actinic blue (such mixture lights are available).
For those who do not mind spending a few extra dollars on their reef tank lighting, the power compact fluorescent lights are the best options. These are fluorescent tubes that are bent several times and attached to a power source from only one end. The advantage of these lights is that they occupy a very small space within the tank, but give better light than the VHO fluorescent lights do. A 55-watt power compact fluorescent light will produce as much light as a 95 watt VHO fluorescent light. They are also power saving, and work for a very long time.
Another option is to go for the metal halide lights. Metal halide lights are good at throwing light in the reef tank, but they are not good for distributing light within the tank. Due to this reason, the tank can get hot due to inadequate temperature distribution. However, metal halide lights are good for prohibiting the growth of algae within the tank. The metal halide lights are the cheapest among the different form of reef lighting.
About the Author
SaltySupply.com high quality
aquarium supply
. We offer protein skimmers such as the
Aqua C Remora
and
Tunze
.
 Smashbox High Def Healthy FX Foundation LIGHT L1 $38 Boxed Light Beige SkinTones US $21.00 
|
 Smashbox High Def Healthy FX Foundation LIGHT L2 $38 Boxed Light Vanilla Skin US $19.99
|
 CHIC Bean™ SpotLight Ready High Light Cover Up with Vitamin E US $16.48
|
 9 Colours Makeup Eye Shadow High Light Powder Eyeshadow US $.01
|
 Half Head Clip in Human Hair Extensions Range Color Length US $22.04
|
 High Light Hi Lite Wraps for Hair US $.10
|
 New LOREAL Expert Vitamino Color Rainse Out 67oz High Low Light Colored Hair US $19.99
|
 MAC Marine Life High Light Powder BNIB AUTH US $26.00
|
 I MP3a Makeup High Light Mineral Powder Foundation Shiny Sheer Bare Oil Control US $.99
|
 FLO Pocket Make up Cosmetic LED light Lamps High quality US $4.99
|
 High Power LED Light Theray Blue Red Infrared AntiAging US $199.00
|
 234 FT DIY Clip in Human Hair Extensions Weft in Range Colors Length US $51.97
|
 Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation LIGHT 3 US $21.99
|
 High Quality 35x Dental Surgical Binocular Loupes LED Head Light lamp US $112.00
|
 High Quality Lighted Metal Magnifying Glass US $14.99
|
 TARTE HIGH PERFORMANCE NATURALS AMAZONIAN PRESSED POWDER NIB 04 LIGHT US $9.99
|
 SMASHBOX High Definition Healthy FX Foundation LIGHT L3 US $11.49
|
 NEW NIB Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation SPF 15 1Oz Light L1 US $23.99
|
 Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation in Light L3 Light US $19.99
|
 25x 420mm Dental Surgical Binocular Loupes LED Head Light lamp High Quality US $120.00
|
 WELLA High Hair Punk Chic Light Control Matt Paste US $18.02
|
 New Fekkai Advanced 15 samplesHigh Light care Hair plump Shea glossing ageles US $17.49
|
 MAC HIGH LIGHT POWDER GOLDEN NECTAR NAKED HONEY COLLECTION HTF LE BNIB US $33.74
|
 MINERAL Sheer Eye Shadow GOLDEN WHITE High Light Makeup US $4.97
|
 CLEOPATRA LIPSTICK STARLET PINK HIGH FROST LIGHT PINK VERY NICE US $15.00
|
Maple Shade high school students perform free concert
The Maple Shade High School will hold its free annual POPS concert, featuring the school’s Jazz Band and show choir, the Choraliers, at 7 p.m., May 25, at the school at 180 Fredrick Ave. The event will be held in the cafeteria and light refreshments will be served.
High Light
Search termshigh light SPF corals
Leave a Comment