How to Choose the Best Aquarium Led Lighting: 4 Tips


marine aquarium with led lights

Are you looking for suitable lighting for your aquarium? This article will guide you to pick a suitable LED light for your aquarium.

Looking for a way to light up your aquarium and give it new life this spring? You can't go wrong with LED lighting.

Why? Because an aquarium that is properly illuminated creates the appearance of depth and highlights your aquarium's aquascaping. It also draws attention to your fish's color.

The question is, what is the most suitable lighting for your aquarium?

Here's a rundown on four tips for picking the best aquarium LED lighting.

Let's get started!

1. Look for the Best Aquarium LED Lighting Technology for Your Unique Needs

One of the most important tips for choosing the best aquarium LED lighting is to consider your prospective light's technology.

The technology of aquarium LED lighting ranges from the basic level to the high-technology level.

Basic fixtures use small amounts of LED circuits for illuminating your aquarium. This might be helpful for a 10-gallon or 20-gallon freshwater aquarium.

Meanwhile, the technology level above basic uses more LED lights for enhanced lighting coverage. Fixtures with this level of technology also come with on/off timers.

Finally, high-end lights focus on reef tanks' lighting requirements. They are designed for tanks that contain live corals, as well as planted aquariums.

2. Know Your Aquarium Width

As you go shopping for a light for your aquarium, make sure that you know the width of your aquarium.

This is important because LED lighting comes in various lengths. These lengths match aquariums' lengths.

Knowing your aquarium width is particularly important if you are looking for a light designed to sit atop your aquarium.

3. Ensure That You Have an Appropriate Amount of Lighting for a Freshwater Aquarium

When it comes to choosing lighting for your freshwater aquarium, including the best refugium light, make sure that you have plenty of light but not too much light. After all, too much light may damage your plants.

As a general rule of thumb, choose LED lighting with a light output of 5500 to 7000 K. That's equivalent to the natural daylight you'd see on a sunny or cloudy day.

4. Look for a Dense Amount of LED Lighting for a Reef Aquarium

If you have a reef aquarium, you'll need to bathe it in light. This will ensure that all of your invertebrates, including your corals, will receive the energy necessary for photosynthesis.


So, look for LEDs that have light-focusing lenses. You'll be able to distribute light across your entire aquarium in this way.

Also, make sure that your light can provide an output of up to around 10,000 K as well as blue actinic light. This mimics how sunlight penetrates seawater along a reef.

How We Can Help

In addition to highlighting the best aquarium LED lighting, we offer a wide range of tips and advice related to aquarium setup and care.

For instance, you can learn about your aquarium filtration options. You can also learn about the top-tier aquarium kits and water testing kits for your aquarium.

Take a peek at our site to learn more about how best to take care of your aquarium and keep it looking great for years to come.