LED reef lighting has become very popular with those who enjoy aquariums and the soothing feeling they bring to a home or office. There are several options when deciding what type of reef lighting is right for your aquarium.
Reef Aquarium Tanks and Lighting
A reef aquarium tank is a fish and live rock aquarium with corals. They require a higher quality lighting system, water quality, and water movement. A healthy reef tank also requires occupants that do not adversely affect corals. These include reef safe fish, invertebrates, and tank janitors. LED reef lighting is usually used for nighttime lighting but is many times used as the main light source. Many of the new LED lighting systems adjust intensity of the LED modules to create a realistic moon cycle simulation thatÂ’s perfect for reef tanks.
Types and Advantages of LED Reef Lighting
There are several variations of LED reef lights including moon lights, lunar lights, and polycarbonate lens shimmer effects which mimic the underwater effect of sunlight. Moon and lunar lights complete the day/night cycle and can stimulate coral spawning while allowing nighttime viewing. Some of the advantages of using LED lights over other lights include being extremely energy efficient, lasting up to five years or 50,000+ hours, they produce very little heat, are smaller in size, and they are more durable (no filament to break).
What Type of LED Reef Lighting Do You Need?
There is no set answer to this question because it depends upon the type of corals you have in your tank. Some corals need a lot of direct light while others need a defused portion or a different spectrum and intensity of lights. The more consumers learn about their chosen corals, the more likely they are to pick the best LED lighting. Installation is also very important and requirements are also dependent upon the selection of corals. Check local pet stores and online forums for recommendations.
LED Reef Lighting Requirements
Although there are exceptions, the general lighting requirements for coral is three-and-a-half watts of 6700K+ lighting for each gallon of tank water for soft corals, and four-and-a-half watts of 6700+ lighting for each gallon of tank water for hard corals. An exception to this general calculation is that some coral species require more or less light than their hard or soft brethren. Some lights are designed to allow customization for maximum growth and breeding conditions, and lights can be put on a timer to help assure the proper amount of light is received.
Before Buying LED Reef Lighting
Before purchasing new LED lights, consumers should make sure they consult with professionals that know about the specific type of corals they have. Although LED lights may be more expensive at first, their overall lifespan and energy savings make them worthwhile, and those who have used them have been quite pleased with their performance and overall quality.
LED reef lighting is the answer for many reef enthusiasts, but they will want to take the time to compare prices and features which will ensure a more satisfactory end result.
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