| Most people prefer to buy a plastic hood for their tank | | | | sufficient. For reef aquariums, you need to ensure that |
| that includes a cover and lighting. Most packages | | | | you select enough watts for the number of gallons of |
| contain either one or two fluorescent bulbs that are | | | | water your tank holds. A 55 gallon aquarium, for |
| built in to the hood. This type of setup is very simple. | | | | example, would need at least 165 watts, and up to 275 |
| You just place the hood on top of the tank, plug it in, | | | | watts in order for photosynthesis to effectively take |
| and turn it on. | | | | place. |
| Standard normal-output fluorescent bulbs are perfectly | | | | In order to get that kind of wattage, you might need as |
| acceptable for fish-only tanks, but they will not be able | | | | many as 4-6 fluorescent tubes, which is far more than |
| to support photosynthetic animals, and they will not be | | | | any standard hood can accommodate. Thus for |
| bright enough to accommodate other marine animals | | | | marine aquariums, one must generally choose VHO |
| than need extreme amounts of light to survive. | | | | bulbs which require special ballasts. Or you could |
| Saltwater Reef Aquarium Lighting | | | | choose to go with metal halides instead. |
| If you intend to create a reef aquarium, your lighting | | | | Please note that a pre-made lighting system is NOT |
| needs will be different. For example, even placing a | | | | suitable for reef tanks. You will have to develop your |
| piece or two of live rock or soft corals will require you | | | | own custom setup if you want the best possible |
| to replace at least one of the bulbs in your hood with a | | | | solution. Some people use egg crates in their halide |
| higher Kelvin normal-output bulb. A 10,000K bulb will | | | | systems, but this is not advisable. A 250 watt halide |
| usually be sufficient for some reed life, but only soft | | | | bulb will melt egg crates! |
| corals like mushroom coral (actinodicus) and sea mats | | | | Saltwater Aquarium Lighting - Metal Halide Bulbs |
| would be able to live under the low lighting provided by | | | | The trouble with metal halide bulbs is heat. They get |
| two of these tubes. | | | | very, very hot. You've probably touched a normal |
| Saltwater Aquarium Lighting - Types of Bulbs | | | | 70-100 watt light bulb in your house before. They get |
| There are four main types of fluorescent bulbs: | | | | quite warm, but a 250 watt incandescent metal halide |
| 1. NO - Normal Output | | | | bulb will cause your tank temperature to rise |
| 2. HO - High Output | | | | precipitously. |
| 3. VHO - Very High Output | | | | Saltwater Aquarium Lighting Tips |
| 4. PC - Power Compacts (also known as Osram) | | | | You will need to make sure your hood keeps the bulbs |
| There is also another type of bulb altogether known | | | | at least 12 inches away from the water surface, ideally |
| as metal halide (MH). Metal halide bulbs are rated solely | | | | even higher. A distance of 15 inches would be better. |
| by wattage and spectral output. Since iodines and | | | | This will allow some air to move between the bulbs |
| sodiums are not suitable for marine aquariums, you | | | | and the water, but you will still need to use fans or a |
| absolutely must avoid the type of metal halide bulbs | | | | commercial chiller. Chillers can cost $500 or more, so |
| that are found in commercial buildings and parking lots. | | | | this may not be a good option for you. But fans are |
| Saltwater Aquarium Lighting for Fish-Only Systems | | | | acceptable for cooling if you cannot afford the added |
| For fish-only systems, standard fluorescent bulbs are | | | | expense of a chiller. |