Metal Halide Lighting and Aquarium Moonlight
Lighting is one of the important components of an aquarium. Integrating this component has certain benefits to the health condition of live aquatic creatures kept in an aquarium.
Aquarium lighting is deemed more suitable for marine aquarium with fish and corals. Aside from illuminating the aquarium, aquarium lighting can also provide life support to the aquarium creatures. They can be regarded as artificial sources of light and heat for corals and other heat-hungry aquatic creatures.
VHO fluorescent tubes, T5 High Output fluorescent bulbs, screw-style incandescent bulbs, LED and power compact fluorescent bulbs are types of artificial lights that can be used for aquariums.
The screw-style incandescent bulb can be suited for freshwater aquarium. Normal output fluorescent lighting is the other form in lighting a freshwater aquarium. Compact florescent lighting is also used for freshwater aquaria.
There are lightings that can encourage plant growth in freshwater aquaria. Power compact fluorescent and T5 bulbs can provide this feature.
Marine aquariums would require much brighter lights than freshwater ones. Aquarists may also use lights that have varying spectrums. Very High Output fluorescent tubes can create brighter light and are available in various spectrums.
There are aluminum light bulbs that can mimic the light spectrum and wavelength of the sun and the moon. Metal halide lighting is the popular light source used in reef aquariums. The high output lights of this kind of light source can imitate the shimmering effect of sunlight. The bulbs of this kind of light source for marine aquariums can come in various spectrums.
There are light sources for aquarium that can mimic the light of the moon. Called aquarium moonlight, this kind of light source can be decoratively placed in an aquarium. Although not as bright and powerful as metal halide lighting, aquarium moonlight can provide advantages to aquatic creatures.
Aquarium moonlight is a light source that is composed of specialized LED's. The LED's can produce wavelengths similar to that of the moon. It could be used in conjunction with metal halide bulbs. While metal halide bulbs can produce day-time environment for fish, corals and invertebrates, aquarium moonlight can be used as nighttime light source for the aquarium creatures.
Most aquatic creatures normally spawn during nighttime under the presence of moonlight. Having aquarium moonlight can encourage the spawning process of aquatic creatures inside an aquarium. It can also influence feeding behavior.
Aquarium moon light can consume less electricity compared to metal halide bulbs. Consolidating the two kinds of light source in an aquarium and alternating their functions can make an aquarium environment close to the natural setting.
