Reef Aquarium Lighting - Metal Halide Reef Lighting
Metal Halide Reef Aquarium Lighting
Metal Halide lighting is a type of lighting known as High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting. Metal halide lamps are more energy-efficient than other lamps and are available in a wide variety of wattages and color temperatures. Wattage determines how much light is produced and color temperature determines the coloration that will be produced. The higher the color temperature of a bulb (in degrees Kelvin), the bluer the light will be. Note: high temperature bulbs may not necessarily provide the best light for optimal growth and coloration in all corals. Also, metal halide lights may not be the best lighting option for smaller aquarium systems or where soft corals are the predominant coral kept.
With regards to
aesthetics, lower temperature (~6500 Kelvin) bulbs may
produce the most rapid growth and greatest amount of total
light, but the tank itself may appear drab with a yellowish
tint. This is where the 1:1 ratio comes into play; adding
some blue light will help to make the visual appearance of
the tank as pleasurable as possible.
BE CAREFUL!!! Metal halides could burn SPS corals if the
corals are not gradually acclimated to them. To reduce the
likelihood of this happening, precautions should be taken.
Your new corals should be (A) placed on the bottom of the
tank and gradually moved up, or (B) temporarily screened from
the light and gradually exposed to full light. Also, it may
be necessary to run a chiller or fan to remove any excess
heat that is produced from the lighting.
Metal halide bulbs should be replaced every 9-10 months
(approximately 3000 hours of use). Don’t
wait for the bulbs to burn out because after 9-10 months of
use, the bulbs will have lost thirty percent or more of their
elucidation.
