Metal halide lights and metal halide pendants are super for reef aquariums

 If you are serious about your reef aquarium, your only choice of lighting will be metal halide.  The deeper your aquarium, the greater the need for intense lighting from metal halide bulbs, especially if your tank is 36 inches or deeper.  Some corals have a very high lighting requirement and most often this can only be accomplished with a metal halide lighting system.  For visual effects, some people use metal halide pendants which are bright and can really show off the colors of an aquarium.  For freshwater aquariums, VHO or power compact fluorescent lighting will work just find.

Many professionals and hobbyists prefer metal halide lighting systems because of the special lighting effects they can create.  The intensity of metal halide lights create what divers refer to as glitter lines or flashes of light.  These flashes can create a very pleasant visual effect especially in reef aquariums.  These light flashes are not created with fluorescent bulbs as the light is more diffuse.  If you are using metal halide pendants, you will get some of the effect of the light�s intensity to create glitter lines but they will not be as dramatic as with hood lighting.

Metal halide lighting systems are designed to resemble sunlight so they are a must for anyone creating a reef aquarium.  After approximately 12 months, their output will drop by almost 30% but they will continue to consume the same amount of power.  It is always recommended to change out your metal halide pendant or hood bulbs every 12 months.  Don�t� wait for the bulb to burn out before you change it over.  Most people have a hard time doing this, but if you want to keep you saltwater aquarium healthy, change you bulbs regularly.

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