
Lighting for Plant Growth & Healthįor aquariums with only fish and no coral or reef, decorative lighting for visibility is often enough. Another reason is plant growth and health. This is one reason why manufacturers like Ushio and UV Lighting Company have developed specialized aquarium lights. Regular artificial light that is quickly absorbed would result in a dark, unclear aquarium. Light can be quickly absorbed by water, and the more water and less light, the more difficult it is to see anything in the water. This is why it is important to use special light bulbs to provide visibility for aquariums. They have smaller wavelengths, so the light is scattered by particles in the water. The longer wavelengths of the red end of the spectrum have less energy, and therefore do not penetrate the surface of water very far.Īt the other end, violet and ultraviolet wavelengths are also absorbed quickly. Red and near-infrared light is absorbed very quickly by water, while orange and yellow also do not penetrate very far. Wavelenghts at either end of the spectrum are absorbed at relatively lower depths than blue wavelength light. This is more prevalant in large bodies of waters like lakes and oceans, but also applies to recreational and commercial aquariums.


Why can't you use a regular light bulb in your aquarium? The simple answer is that different wavelengths of light are absorbed at different rates by water.

About Aquarium Lighting Color Absorption & Visibility
