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The Best Lights for a Planted Freshwater Aquarium
The Best Lights for a Planted Freshwater Aquarium. Freshwater plants need light for photosynthesis and should ideally get about 12 hours of lighting per day. Generally, they should also get about 2 to 5 watts of lighting per gallon of water. Several new types of lighting use little electricity to generate high light outputs, reducing energy bills...
Freshwater plants need light for photosynthesis and should ideally get about 12 hours of lighting per day. Generally, they should also get about 2 to 5 watts of lighting per gallon of water. Several new types of lighting use little electricity to generate high light outputs, reducing energy bills and providing optimum lighting conditions for freshwater plants to thrive.
Super High Output
The Super High Output (SHO) light bulb comes in several watt levels, each producing much more than it uses. For example, the 65-watt light bulb emits the equivalent of 325 watts. It generates enough light even for large aquariums containing 50 gallons or water or more. The SHO light bulb helps plants to grow more quickly and has a low setup cost. However, installing it requires some do-it-yourself skills because it needs a special incandescent socket or pendant.
LED
The LED light is costly initially, but it generates cost savings over time. Each light bulb can last 50,000 hours, reducing the need to buy new light bulbs. It also uses little energy to generate high light outputs and emits focused light rays. As a result, it wastes little energy and reduces energy bills. It also runs cooler, eliminating the problem of lights heating the aquarium. Several LED lights on the market have been designed specifically to produce the correct wavelengths in the correct amounts for aquarium plants.
Metal Halide
Metal halide light bulbs use little electricity to produce much light. The light they emit resembles sunlight in luminosity. They also reflect movements of the water surface, creating a sparkling effect much like water in the sunlight. Metal halide light bulbs work well for both freshwater and saltwater plants. However, they produce a lot of heat, and a fan has to be installed to cool the temperature. They also are costly to purchase and operate.
T2
With its small size, the T2 light fixture uses little energy to produce high light outputs. It also wastes less energy compared to SHO light bulbs. It works well to provide intense lighting for aquariums with small hoods and little space. To save space, a T2 light fixture can connect to another to provide light for a large aquarium. The T2 light fixture is relatively cheap and suitable for both freshwater and seawater aquariums.
