Salt Water Fish Aquarium Lighting And Heating

In order for salt water fish species to thrive, proper lighting and filtration is required. There must be a regular lighting cycle in the salt water fish aquarium, for starters, which establishes a routine for the fish and other species. Different lighting is required for different types of exotic salt water fish, especially when living coral is being housed in the aquarium. Fluorescent, high output fluorescent, compact fluorescent, LED, actinic and metal halides are all types of salt water fish aquarium lighting. The wattage and color temperature are the most important considerations to make when purchasing lighting for salt water fish species. Deeper and bigger aquariums require higher wattages for the exotic salt water fish to survive.

The color temperature is the spectrum of light that is emitted by the lamp, which is measured in kelvins. A salt water fish aquarium which contains living coral will typically be the most successful with 10,000 K light, which appears white. There are also 14,000 K and 20,000 K bulbs that produce a bluish tint, which saltwater fish usually like because it mimics the ocean. Most salt water fish aquarium inhabitants are used to tropical reefs and the waters of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Red Sea. Heating is important for the success of salt water fish species, because the temperatures should mimic the natural environment, most commonly maintained at 75-82 °F. If the ambient temperature is less than the desired aquarium temperature, the use of a heater will be necessary for the exotic salt water fish to survive. In some areas, ambient temperatures are even greater than the desired temperature, in which case refrigeration devices are used.

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