The Best Lights for Your Aquarium

One of the main reasons people buy lights for their aquarium is to revel in the beauty of their fish and decorations. Depending on the type of inhabitants you wish to keep in your tank, you’re going to want to make sure you’re taking care of your housemates with the proper lighting. Here are some great aquarium lights we recommend.

What to Consider in Aquarium Lights

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Living Things: All living creatures need the appropriate amount of light, so it’s important to choose the right aquarium light that accommodates the types of fish and live plants you have. Some living things require dim lighting, while others need bright lights to thrive.
• Color: The color of the light can make a big difference between mediocre and healthy plant growth. Different colors can drastically affect the health of your live plants, so finding a light with a customizable color spectrum is important. Red, blue, white, and green are essential to good aquatic plant growth.
• Quality of Light: The brightness and quality of the lights can highlight your aquarium and help support the healthy growth of fish and plants. LED lights are the way to go and are quite popular. For one thing, they not only save energy but have a longer lifespan than old-school lights. They also give off no heat so that your water and fish won’t be affected by unwelcome high temperatures.

Now let’s take a look at some of the best aquarium lights on the market!

Best for Saltwater: NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light

The NICREW Classic LED Aquarium Light comes with energy-efficient LED lights that are long-lasting and help bolster the growth of both fish and aquatic plants. The easily adjustable metal brackets are broad enough to fit any fish tank, and it comes with two different lighting options for day and night use.

Best for Freshwater: Finnex Planted+ Aquarium Light

The Finnex Planted+ Aquarium LED Light is a very modern and chic-looking LED light. It comes with a remote control so that you can switch to special settings like thunder or sunny, and you can create your own custom lights and adjust the levels as you wish. It features four custom color settings and intensity combinations to help your freshwater plants flourish. The legs are slightly adjustable to accommodate smaller tanks, but the system itself comes in different sizes.

Best Hood: Marineland LED Light Hood

One of the best hoods with integrated lighting comes from Marineland. The Marineland LED Light Hood features a sleek design and bright white LEDs that mimic the natural water effects of sunlight. For nighttime observation, switch the effect mode to soft blue for a mesmerizing look. It only comes in three different sizes, but its hinges are designed to fit the most popular frame sizes. With a reasonable price tag, this aquarium light is slowly becoming one of the most sought-after lights for both freshwater and saltwater aquarists.

Best for Coral Reefs: Current USA Orbit Marine Pro LED Light

For the best light for your coral reef, here’s the Current USA Orbit Marine Pro LED Light. It’s easy to install, features quality brightness, and has various brilliant colors to complement anything from fishes to rocks and coral. The control center is also one of the best on the market as it comes with a mini Bluetooth controller, so you can sync your aquarium needs to your mobile device. Being able to control the water’s temperature and create waves from your fingertips makes this light one of the more intuitive fixtures around.