Metal halide aquarium lighting systems used to provide some of the best results of any lighting system available but they have drawbacks.
They are some of the best light systems in regard to their ability to produce:
1) The natural colors needed by corals.
2) The intensity needed by even the most demanding corals.
3) And the beauty of the shimmering light effect produced by metal halide lights in reef aquariums.
These features are all on the same level of quality as that produced by LED lights.
If you are looking to buy metal halide aquarium lights click here.
If you want to learn more continue reading below.
We also give you the opportunity to purchase a variety of some of the best aquarium lights for your needs.
- LED aquarium lights
- Metal Halide aquarium lights
- Power Compact aquarium lights
- VHO Lights
- Why Reef Tanks Need Special Lights ?
CONS
Metal halide aquarium lights have two drawbacks. They are not very efficient at turning electricity flowing through their filaments into light so some of that electricity turns to heat. What this means is metal halide lights are great for corals, but they produce a massive amount of heat.
The 2nd drawback is that unlike with LED Lights for reef tanks you have to change metal halide bulbs once a year or more because over time they lose their ability to produce proper light wavelengths needed by corals.
PROS
The good thing is that you can buy great used systems and diy metal halide aquarium lighting for even large reef tanks very cheap because many people have replaced metal halides with more modern LED’s. You must get them while they last because as time passes theses halide systems are being replaced by newer systems.
The light produced by a typical 6500k metal halide bulb is very similar to that of the noonday tropical sun at sea level. Since corals generally live at least a few feet under water, additional blue light is needed. This blue light can be provided by adding supplemental VHO bulbs or power compact bulbs, or with the aid of the newer Higher Kelvin metal halide bulbs that come in high Kelvin ratings, such as 10,000K, 12,000K, 14,000K, & 20,000K. They bring out the corals’ colors, with these new bulbs, you do not need any additional actinic blue fluorescent bulbs.
Metal halide lighting systems can support even the most demanding small polyp stony coral and giant clams. German manufactured metal halide bulbs are the best. Halide bulbs have to be changed roughly once each year.
Metal halide lights for reef tanks do have drawbacks: some corals will need to be introduced slowly to these very bright lights because these metal halide lights can burn any coral that are not accustomed to being close to them. Put these corals at the bottom of the tank or in more shady areas when they are first introduced to the tank. Since these fixtures produce large amounts of heat, they need to be suspended at least twelve inches above the surface of the water. A small fan should be used to evacuate the heat away from the bulbs before they have an opportunity to heat up the aquarium water. These fans are often built into the light fixtures.
Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is the light that is used in plants for photosynthesis. It would make sense to look for Photosynthetically active radiation(PAR) measurements on reef aquarium lights because PAR takes into consideration those wavelengths of lights that are most important for the photosynthetic algae living inside the corals tissues, and it ignores all the other unimportant wavelengths of light. Unfortunately, currently, the manufacturers of reef aquarium lighting do not usually report the PAR levels of their products.