Lighting serves several beneficial purposes for an aquarium habitat:
- It allows plants to photosynthesize, which releases oxygen into the water and decreases the amount of carbon dioxide.
- It stimulates the fish.
- It allows you to view the fish.
- It provides a consistent light source for the aquarium.
Types of Lighting
There are three types of lighting: fluorescent, tungsten and mercury vapor. Each has its advantages and disadvantages but if you can afford the fluorescent type, they're the best to use for your tank.
Fluorescent
- The fluorescent lights are less expensive to operate, have a long lamp life and run "cool."
- Fluorescent lights work well with for tanks that are a maximum of twenty inches tall.
- The length of the tank should determine the length of the bulb.
- Additional tubes may be needed, depending upon the plants you have chosen.
Tungsten
- Tungsten bulbs are less expensive, but cost more to operate, have short bulb lives and emit heat.
Mercury Vapor
- Their strong beams get light to corners and other dark areas.
- The bulbs use large amounts of electricity.
- The bulbs are best in tanks that are taller than twenty inches.
The hood provides a place for the lamp to sit and maximizes the reflective light of the lamp. You should position the lamps to reflect slightly towards the back of the tank, so the shadows are cast backwards, away from you. This arrangement will also illuminate the fish's iridescence.
You should invest in a cover glass. This will protect the lights from water damage. Tungsten lamps can explode if water is splashed upon them when lit. The cover glass helps minimize that danger. In addition, the cover glass helps separate the dangerous mix of water and electricity!
Lights should be on for twelve to fourteen hours per day. A timer can regulate the lights for you automatically.