Choosing the Right Aquarium Lighting: Types, Wattage, and Plant vs. Fish Needs

Lighting Serves Two Purposes

Grow plants and view fish. The right choice depends on your setup: fish-only, planted freshwater, or reef.

Fluorescent vs. Incandescent (Tungsten)

Feature	Fluorescent	Incandescent
Heat output	Low	High
Energy efficiency	High	Low
Form	Tubes (various lengths)	Screw-in bulbs
Light color	White (uncolored)	Yellowish
Cost	Higher upfront	Lower upfront

Colored fluorescent tubes enhance fish colors; plant-growth tubes emit higher spectrum for photosynthesis.

Wattage Guidelines

• Fish-only: 1–1.5 watts/gallon (e.g., 75–112W for 75G).
• Planted freshwater: Depends on plant density and species. Plant-growth bulbs recommended.
• Reef/saltwater: Higher intensity needed. Metal halide common for deep tanks and corals.

Specialty Lighting

• UVB: Essential for turtles without natural sunlight—enables calcium/Vitamin D metabolism.
• Metal halide: High output, requires ballast, used in reef and heavily planted tanks. Expensive.

Algae Warning

Excess light (natural or artificial) fuels algae. Match duration and intensity to actual needs. Use timers.