Although many saltwater aquarium hobbyists have relied for years on fluorescent or metal halide bulbs as their primary source of illumination, these old staples are taking a backseat to LED (Light Emitting Diode) systems, both for the energy savings of LED bulbs as per the many lighting spectrum options available.
What’s so great about LED aquarium lighting?
The main characteristics that make LED lighting so popular are its long lifespan and the much lower amount of energy used to illuminate LEDs. Although they can cost much more upfront, an LED bulb for a saltwater aquarium can last up to five years or 50,000 hours under the right circumstances, and consumes a small amount of energy compared to an incandescent or fluorescent bulb.
Also, unlike fluorescent or metal halide bulbs, LED bulbs do not use mercury as a key component for their operation. Another advantage of LED lighting is that it produces less heat, making it easier to control the amount of heat that is released into your covered aquarium. However, the presence of excessive heat can shorten the life of your LED bulb, so avoid marine aquarium lighting systems that place much hotter fluorescent or metal halide bulbs next to LED bulbs.
LED lighting has the added benefit of being able to dim lights easily. Some LED systems come with automatic timers that automatically illuminate or dim the bulbs based on the time of day. In fact, LED lighting can mimic natural sunlight, making your saltwater aquarium look even more like a slice of the ocean.
Add LED lighting to your aquarium for the best show in the house
When LED bulbs were first available in the aquarium trade, the only available color was white, and LEDs were used primarily to provide a moonlit environment in aquariums. Today, LEDs have advanced to the point where you can buy bulbs in every spectrum you can imagine, from red to yellow to blue. These options mean that you can light up your aquarium to match your décor or create a spectacularly lit centerpiece for your room.
LEDs have also advanced to the point that they are bright enough to create a high-performance light source equivalent to metal halide. In fact, LED lighting has proven to be very effective in coral farming in a saltwater reef aquarium. Also, the different spectra available in LED bulbs allow you to experiment and find the right color combinations to bring out the beauty of your corals and fish.
LED lighting has proven to be very effective in coral farming in a reef saltwater aquarium environment. However, if you decide to use LED lighting for coral farming, pay attention to the fact that LED bulbs can produce very intense light. To avoid fading your coral, you should gradually introduce them to this new light source.
Recent Advances in LED Aquarium Lighting
In addition to spectrum options and high performance lighting, other advancements in aquarium LED lighting include the development of a new lens that is used on top of blue LED bulbs to produce more precise light dispersion. Also, some LED setups come in a setup that is actually hidden from view. You don’t see the lighting fixture, but you get all the splendor of bright LED lighting. Another development in aquarium LED systems is the ability to connect up to four systems in a single unit.
However, the biggest advance in LED aquarium lighting is still the color and intensity of the bulbs. High-end LED systems now allow the choice of the exact wavelength of light, allowing the user to eliminate less valuable lighting spectra, such as the green / yellow spectrum. In fact, the research and development of LED bulbs continues, and new advancements are constantly occurring in the industry, making LED aquarium lighting the wave of the present and the future.