Aquarium lights can’t be too bright for a regular tank. Otherwise, they stress the fish, ruin their feeding cycle, and create panic leading to health issues. The aquarium size and fish species should determine the brightness of the light, and it’s best if it resembles the fish’s natural habitat.
Having said that, there are a lot of other factors too that should be considered for determining the ideal brightness of aquarium lighting. So, let’s talk about them now.
How Bright Should Aquarium Lights Be?
The brightness of the light depends upon various factors like the tank size, water depth, fish species, and the type of aquarium plants.
As a general thumb rule, the ideal brightness of aquarium lights is 10 to 20 lumens per liter of water. But, if you have a large tank, the brightness can be increased up to 20 to 40 lumens per liter of water.
There are two main factors considered for measuring the brightness of lights:
- Intensity, and
- Spectrum.
Intensity refers to how bright the light is, and Spectrum refers to the wavelengths or mixture of colors produced by light.
The light spectrum is given a Kelvin rating (K rating).
Most of the freshwater aquarium lights are rated between 5500 Kelvin and 8000 Kelvin.
Now, if you have an aquarium with tropical fish that are found in either small water bodies or streams and are accustomed to the bright and warm sun rays, then a lighting system with a brightness of 6700 Kelvin and 10000 Kelvin will be ideal.
Similarly, if you have a densely planted tank, the brightness requirement will vary depending upon the plant type and its need for light.
Some plants need bright light, while others thrive in less brightness.
Aquarium lights of 15 to 25 lumens are usually sufficient for aquarium plants that need low lighting.
In contrast, plants that require moderate lighting need 25 to 50 lumens of light.
If you have plants that require extra brightness for optimum growth, you need aquarium lights with more than 50 lumens.
How Does Bright Light Affect Fish And Aquariums?
Bright light helps to darken the pigment of the aquarium fish, making them stand out. Also, it assists in enriching the fish’s color.
So, many people believe that bright light is essential for a healthy tank environment.
However, contrary to popular belief, bright lighting affects the aquarium fish adversely.
Some of the common problems faced by aquarium fish due to bright lighting are listed below.
1. Cause stress to fish.
The natural habitats of aquarium fish are lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, creeks, and even swamps and ditches.
Some of these water bodies are shaded by vegetation or the forest canopy.
So, fish in such water bodies are seldom exposed to bright light in their natural environment.
When you suddenly expose these fish to bright light in a home aquarium, they may experience stress due to the sudden change in lighting.
Under stress, the fish may lose their appetite resulting in a weakened immune system.
This makes them susceptible to diseases.
Therefore, it’s best to replicate the fish’s natural environment and set up the aquarium lighting accordingly.
2. Impact the feeding schedule of fish.
Aquarium fish are used to the feeding schedule set by the aquarists.
However, a lot of fish respond to light when it comes to feeding.
So, if the aquarium lighting is too bright, it confuses the fish. As a result, they may not know when to eat and when not to.
This results in irregular eating habits, adversely impacting their overall growth.
3. Overgrowth of algae.
Another significant problem with bright light is algae proliferation. A light that is too intense promotes algae growth.
You will majorly face the algae problem if you have a non-planted tank.
However, the good thing is that bright light alone doesn’t cause an algae bloom.
Excessive nutrients in the tank water are also a significant contributor to algae blooms in aquariums.
So the best way to cope with algae is to control the nutrients in the water.
4. Affect the aquarium plants.
In addition to causing algal bloom, excessive exposure to bright light adversely affects some aquarium plants that thrive on low light.
Aquatic plants are broadly divided into two types: Sun plants and Shade plants.
Sun plants perform active photosynthesis, and Shade plants are not very active in photosynthesis.
Shade plants need low light for healthy growth. So when such plants are exposed to bright light, they have stunted growth.
Tips To Ensure Aquarium Lighting Is Not Very Bright
Bright lights affect the fish negatively. So the key is to use appropriate lighting in aquariums.
You need to select the correct type of lighting depending upon the size of the aquarium and the fish species.
The following tips will help you to ensure that the aquarium light is not very bright:
- Use LED lights: LED lights are considered to be the best for aquariums as they have lower power consumption and don’t need to be replaced often, resulting in cost reduction. Although LED lights are bright, they are dimmable. This allows you to control the light intensity as per your tank’s requirement. You can even purchase specialized fish tank lights. These lights are regulated and don’t become too bright once installed in the aquarium.
- Test the brightness: It’s good to test the brightness of the lights before installing them in the aquarium. You can test the brightness using a light meter.
- Place the aquarium light at the top: Placing the aquarium lights at an appropriate place is crucial. The best place to set up lights in an aquarium is at the top. This will ensure that the entire tank lights up. Moreover, it will also reduce the impact of light on the tank inhabitants.
- Use dimmable lights: The usage of dimmable bulbs or lights is another way to control the brightness. You can even use dimmers to lower the intensity of the light. Using dimmers allows you to adjust the amount of light without affecting the color spectrum. In addition, dimmers are also helpful in blending different colors.
- Use diffusers: Diffusers are available in different shapes and sizes. These come in handy, especially when you want to diffuse the light evenly across the entire surface area of the aquarium. Diffusers diffuse or scatter the light rays and create a softer light in the aquarium.
Can LED Lights Be Too Bright For Fish?
LED lights can be bright for fish. However, many modern-day LED lights allow you to adjust the intensity of the light.
In addition, you can use a special electronic dimmer switch to have complete control over the light’s dimming.
Trailing edge dimmers work best with LED light bulbs.
This is why many aquarists prefer LED lights for their aquariums, as they can adjust the brightness as per their fish’s requirements.
However, there can be instances when you find your fish hiding most of the time, stressed, or freezing in fear, mainly when the lights are on.
Such instances are a clear indication that the LED lights are too bright for the fish.
