If you are planning to set an aquarium, or if you already have one, you probably know, that proper aquarium lighting is one of the most important equipment in a fish tank.
Aquarium lighting is not only necessary for your fish and plants to be healthy, the proper aquarium lighting for fish color enhances your fish tank colors and makes your aquarium a great home décor element and also, a center of attention.
It is important to mention, that when you are thinking about getting a new aquarium lighting, you need to consider, what do you expect from the aquarium lighting the most? For example, if you have only plants aquarium and you want them to thrive, you need to look for lighting that is specially designed for plants.
But if you have a fish tank, that has a lot of beautiful and colorful fishes inside, you absolutely need aquarium lighting that is specially designed to enrich and brighten the color of your fish.
If you chose to buy and aquarium lighting for fish color, you need to look for one that has full-spectrum RGB lights in it.
Different color lights enrich different colors in fish. Bright colors highlight the pigments and make your fish even more colorful. For example, white light brightens blue and fluorescence tones, while blue light brightens green and red.
If you want to be sure that you chose the right aquarium lighting for fish color, we made a top 10 list of best aquarium lighting for fish color.
The Top 10 Aquarium Lighting for Fish Color:
1. MarsAqua Dimmable LED Aquarium Light
MarsAqua offers you two options of this aquarium lighting, one is 165W with 55 LED lenses and a bigger one with 100 LED lenses and 300W. As a manufacturer says 300W aquarium light is perfect for a 55-gallon fish tank, while 165W one is suitable for a 30-gallon fish tank.
If you have a bigger fish tank than mention before, you shouldn’t be worried, because this aquarium lighting has a double universal cascade, so you can use a pair of these lightings with only one socket. This product also contains easily adjustable hanging kits. Also, this product has a 3 year authentic warranty.
This full-spectrum aquarium lighting is perfect for not only freshwater fish tanks but for saltwater aquarium also. This aquarium lighting has green, blue, red and white color LEDs, which means that it is perfect lighting for brightening the colors of your fish.
Nevertheless, you can adjust the brightening of this aquarium light from 0% to 100%. In addition to this, it also speeds the growth of your aquarium plants, because it has all spectrum lights that are important for healthy plant development.
It is important to mention, that this aquarium lighting has a day and night modes that you can adjust yourself. Nevertheless, this aquarium lighting has professional LED lenses with a 25% higher transmittance comparing with ordinary LED lenses.
In addition to this, this aquarium lighting also has an advance venting system that blows air and ensures that your fish tank will be cool all the time.
2. Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light
This aquarium lighting comes in four different sizes, 18-24 inch with 82 LEDs, 24-36 inch with 104 LEDs, 36-48 inch with 155 LEDs and 48-60 inch with 215 LEDs.
Also, this product has sliding tank mounts that can be adjusted up to 6 inches. This product has aluminum housing that does not heat and works quietly. Also, this aquarium lighting is water-resistant. The product itself is only 0,5” thick.
This aquarium LED light has ultra-bright LEDs and a wider than usual color spectrum. This makes your aquarium fishes and plants brighter than ever.
Also, this product has wider dispersion lenses that distribute the light evenly.
Nevertheless, this aquarium lighting has 24-hour lighting control and you can change the brightness of your fish tank whenever you want.
There are sunrise, sunset, daylight and moonlight programs that you can choose. Also, it has a wireless light control. In addition to this, you can set a storm, clouds or even lighting strike effects.
3. Relassy LED Aquarium Light Panel
The dimensions of this product are 22.1*11.8*0.7 inches. This aquarium lighting is perfect for 38×18″ coverage, but if you have a bigger fish tank, you can use a couple of the aquarium lighting.
This aquarium lighting has 338 high-intensity CREE/OSRAM LEDs. This product includes hanging kits and a 5 ft US powder cord.
This full-spectrum aquarium lighting not only brightens and enriches the natural colors of your fish tank, but it also is very effective when it comes to speed the growth of corals. This aquarium lighting also creates a fluorescence effect.
Also, it is important to mention that you can control this light panel via APP, so you can set your own time circle and the mode of lighting.
ith this aquarium lighting, you can control the brightness from 0% to 100%, which means that you can mimic natural light. Also, it is quite aquarium lighting.
4. VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control Dimmable LED Aquarium Light
This aquarium lighting comes in two sizes. The dimensions of the smaller on are 16×8.5×2.4inches and it has 55 high-intensity Bridgelux/Epileds LEDs and it is ideal lighting for 24×24” coverage.
The bigger one is 31.5 x 8.5 x 2.4 inches with 100 LEDs and it is ideal for 32×24” coverage.
The lifespan of both sizes is 100 000 hours. It is a hang on lighting with hanging kit included in the packaging.
Also, you can adjust the brightness of this aquarium light from 0% to 100% using an included wireless remote.
This light has quiet fans, so you will not hear any noise while it works.
It is a full spectrum, 7 colors, high-quality aquarium lighting, it means that this lighting will speed the growth of your plants and make your fish tank bright and colorful as well.
5. Phlizon 165W Dimmable Full Spectrum Aquarium LED Light
The dimensions of this aquarium light are 16″*8″*2.4″ with 55 LEDs and it is an ideal fit for 24″*24″*24″ aquarium, a maximum coverage area is 36″*36″*36″.
The lifespan of this aquarium lighting is 50 000 hours. It has a full spectrum,5 colors high-quality LEDs, with 4 pieces of UV that promote plants’ defense mechanism.
Blue light helps to produce Vitamin D3 which is necessary for calcium absorption. While red light is important for healthy fish growth, green light also speeds the growth of plants.
A combination of these colors helps to enrich the natural colors of your fish tank.
It is a hang on lighting with hanging kits included in the packaging, it is also a cascading product so you can use a couple of these lights with one socket.
6. NICREW SkyLED Aquarium Light
This product comes in four different sizes, 12-18″ 32 white and 10 full-spectrum LEDs, 18-24″ 48 white and 16 full-spectrum LEDs, 30-36″ 80 white and 24 full spectrum LEDs and the biggest option 48-54″ with 120 white and 32 full-spectrum LEDs.
Also, these products have extendable mounting branches that make the installation a lot easier and the lighting can be installed on different aquariums.
This ultra-thin aluminum design aquarium led light enhances the beautiful natural colors of your fish and plants. Also, it helps aquarium plants to grow bigger and healthier looking.
The only minus is that this aquarium lighting is not water-resistant, so you must protect it with glass or acrylic canopy.
7. ZXMEAN 165W LED Aquarium Light
The dimension of this hang on aquarium lighting is 15.75×8.46×2.36″ with 55 High-Intensity 3W Bridgelux&Epistar LEDs. This aquarium lighting can be used for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
Blue channels are perfect for saltwater fish tanks, while white and red channels are great for freshwater aquariums. Full-spectrum lights enhance the natural colors of your fish tank.
The lighting itself is built of aluminum and has powerful and quiet fans. The dimmer knob can dim the brightness from 0% to 100%.
The only problem with this aquarium lighting is that it is not water-resistant.
Interested in saltwater tanks? Check our article about best nano reef lights and best LED lighting for reef tanks!
8. Koval Aquarium Lighting
This aquarium lighting comes in three sizes, 24-30 inch with 78 LEDs, 36-43 inch with 129 LEDs, 45-50 inch with 156 LEDs. This aquarium light comes with extendable branches, that makes this product universal and easy to install.
Koval aquarium lighting has high-quality, bright 5 colors, full-spectrum LEDs, that will enrich the colors of your fish tank. It is high efficiency and low energy aquarium lighting. High- quality LEDs can be used at least 50000 hours.
Also, the shell of this lighting is made of aluminum alloy. The only minus of this product is that you cannot change or regulate the brightness of this aquarium lighting.
9. BeamsWork EA Full Spectrum LED Aquarium Fish Tank Light
This aquarium light comes in various length, you can choose from 12” to 72”, so you will absolutely find something, that fits perfectly on your fish tank. Also, this light has extendable branches, so this product is easy to install.
This aquarium lighting has full spectrum LEDs that will highlight the colors of your fish tank and speed for your plants’ growth. This product can be used for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
Also, the manufacturer gives a 1-year warranty for this product.
But it is important to mention that this fish tank light has only two – day and night modes and you can’t regulate the brightness yourself.
10. JC&P Full Spectrum Aquarium LED Light
This lightweight, aluminum design, ultra-thin aquarium LED light comes in three sizes. The smallest one is 11”-19” with 42 full-spectrum LEDs, the medium one is 20″-27” with 90 full spectrum LEDs and the large one is 28”-36” with 135 full-spectrum LEDs.
This product is well made and comes with extendable branches.
The manufacturer gives a 12-month warranty for this product.
But keep in mind that this product isn’t waterproof and has only two modes – day and night with no possibility to change the brightness.
Best Aquarium Lighting for Fish Color FAQs:
Does light color affect fish?
It might affect your fish if you are using only one-color lighting for example, green or red. Fish feels the best when it is in a natural or moonlight lighting, that is created by using a combination of various LED light colors.
Is LED light good for fish tanks?
You shouldn’t be worried about LED light damage to your fish tank. The LED light comes in different colors and they can mimic the natural lighting that is the best and healthiest for your fish and plants.
Also, you can regulate the brightness of the majority of the LED lights available on the market.
Do LED lights hurt fish eyes?
Good quality aquarium LED light is the closest option to the natural lighting. It means, that it absolutely won’t hurt your fish eyes. If you have fish that naturally lives in dim lighting you can regulate and adjust the brightness of your aquarium LED light.
What Color light do fish like?
All species are different. Some of them like dim lighting, some of them like bright daylight. If you want to know in what lighting your fish feels the best, you should search in what environment your fish naturally lives.
Is blue light good for fish at night?
Yes, especially if you have fish that are nocturnal. Blue light mimics the natural night light and allows your fish to explore and communicate with each other at night. Also, you can watch the nightlife of your aquarium as well.
Conclusion
It is important to mention that different fish species require different lighting. For instance, if you have fish that naturally like dim lighting you probably should avoid very bright lighting if you want your fish to be happy and healthy. Or if you still what to have brighter lighting in your fish tank, make sure that there are some plants, branches or aquarium caves where your fish can hide if they do not feel well.
Need more guides for fish tanks? Check articles below!
