When it comes to lighting a saltwater aquarium, the procedure is the same as for a fresh water aquarium. The only differences between maintaining a saltwater aquarium and a freshwater aquarium, have more to do with erosion or corrosion of materials found in the aquarium that the saltwater comes in contact with.
There are a few things to consider when choosing saltwater lighting for your aquarium. First of all, you want to be sure that your fish and plants will receive enough lighting from the lights that you choose. A good rule of thumb is to provide for 2.5 watts per each gallon of water in the aquarium. This way you can be sure that your fish are getting an adequate amount of light during the daylight portion of their schedule.
Another thing to consider is whether you will choose a light with a canopy or a hood. While lights typically come with their own hood, canopies allow you to switch lights and keep using the same canopy. A canopy is basically two strips of glass that are connected with a plastic hinge and is separate from the light itself. For this reason, it can be much easier to opt for a canopy over a hood if you will be upgrading your lighting system.
You may have heard people mention using grow lights in aquariums. While you may like the way that particular grow lights look, these are not best for use in aquariums, as they will promote algae growth. If you want to spend as little money as possible, consider going with regular fluorescent light bulbs. These are low heat bulbs that do not use very much electricity.
More recently, there has been increasing interest in the use of LED lights in saltwater aquariums. Though these lights are typically more expensive than other lights, they use much less electricity than even fluorescent bulbs, and give off no heat at all. The main benefit to many aquarium enthusiasts though, is the special cast of light that LED lights give off. Many people find the marine bluish tint to mimic natural underwater lighting better than any other type of light bulb.
One way to determine whether your saltwater aquarium has enough light or not is to keep an eye on how your live plants are doing. If algae collects rapidly, then you probably have too much light in the aquarium. If the plants do not seem to be thriving, then there is probably a lack of light. Simply adjust the light level and hours per day that they are left on until you find a good balance.
If you want to try something a little different, how about using day-glo lights in your saltwater aquarium? Instead of the usual silver color of regular bulbs, these types of lights can be purchased in many bright and unique colors. These lights are safe to use in an aquarium, as long as you follow typically safety guidelines.
It should be noted that the use of day-glo lights does tend to increase algae growth, so it would be a good idea to get a snail, a Plecco, or both. While snails can sometimes take over a tank, Plecostomus fish will never overpopulate and will keep your tank nice and algae-free.
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