Aquarium hoods and lighting is an important aspect when keeping an aquarium. Proper fish tank lighting maintains the health of the fish and the plants in your aquarium. Your goal in aquarium lighting is to recreate the natural habitat of your organisms. With so many different types of fish tank lighting and hoods available in the market, it becomes confusing to select the right one. Aquarium hoods act as a guard, preventing fish from leaping out of the aquarium, and make an excellent place to connect your lights.
Benefits of Aquarium Hoods and Lighting
Lighting is an essential element that enhances and protects the underwater environment. The proper color and wavelength play an important role in providing a healthy environment to the fish and fauna contained within the aquarium. The type and intensity of fish tank lighting affects health, stress and photosynthesis, and also stimulates reproduction.
Apart from housing the lighting systems for your aquarium, hoods provide many other benefits. It maintains proper temperature in the aquarium, even when the day and night temperature in the room varies. The lid protects the fish from pets, and also prevents fish from jumping out of the aquarium. Greater security, added visual benefits and regulated aquarium temperature makes aquarium hood an essential element.
Types of Aquarium Lighting
In the last couple of decades, there has been a revolution in aquarium lighting. The main types of aquarium lighting are- Regular fluorescent tubes, which are basic bulbs that come with the aquarium. They are inexpensive and easy to operate. They come in many lengths as well as tube diameters. These are the best choice for an aquarium as they emit an even spectrum of light, and do not generate more heat. Power compact lighting and a T5 bulb are available in different wattages and spectrum, these power compact bulbs consume less electricity to produce more power. They are more efficient than fluorescent bulbs.
HQI are energy efficient bulbs that generate high power in the fish tank. They are most suitable for reef tanks and some beautifully planted tanks. Metal halide bulbs give a visual appeal to the aquarium by creating shimmer effect. Though expensive, LED lights offer many benefits. They are cooler, energy efficient, and have a much longer life span.
Aquarium hoods are made up of different materials. The most common way to light your aquarium is by using regular hoods that covers the tank and contains one or more bulbs for lighting. Some hoods are attached with fans to maintain the temperature of the aquarium and water.
Factors to Consider in Choosing Aquarium Hoods and Lighting
If your fish aquarium contains aquatic plants also, then the aquarium lighting depends upon depth of the tank, species of plants and desired growth rate. However, if your tank does not contain any live plants, you can select low watt fluorescent lights.
While selecting the hood for your aquarium, make sure you have the exact measurements of the top of the fish tank, so that you get the perfect sized hood. Aquarium hoods and lighting are vital elements that help in ensuring the healthy growth of fish and aquatic plants in your fish tank.
Author Resource:
Morgan enjoys creating dazzling, living aquatic sculptures. She shares her tips on maintaining stunning reef tanks at Aquarium Lighting . Morgan has now switched her tank lights over entirely to LED Aquarium Lighting. It's a hot topic these days, follow the saga over at the LED lights for coral tanks pages and add your voice to the debate.
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