Best Aquarium Lights For Planted Tanks (2023 Updated)
When looking for aquarium lights for planted tanks, it is important to consider several factors to ensure the best lighting setup for your tank. Here are five key points to keep in mind:
1. Light intensity: The light intensity of your aquarium lights is essential for the health of your plants. Too much light can cause algae growth, while too little light can stunt the growth of your plants.
2. Color temperature: Different plants require different color temperatures, so it’s important to choose aquarium lights that can provide the correct color temperature for your plants.
3. Light spectrum: Different plants require different light spectrums for optimal growth. Make sure to choose aquarium lights that can provide the correct spectrum for your plants.
4. Timers: Aquarium lights should be set up with a timer to ensure that your plants receive the correct amount of light each day.
5. Cost: Make sure to consider your budget when purchasing aquarium lights. There are many options available to fit any budget.
Overall, when looking for aquarium lights for planted tanks, it is important to consider factors such as light intensity, color temperature, light spectrum, timers, and cost. Doing so will ensure that you have the best lighting setup for your tank and that your plants receive the best care.
10 Best Aquarium Lights For Planted Tanks
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1. Rl90 Wifi Aquarium Light W/ App Control For Marine Sps/lps Growth.
The PopBloom RL90 WiFi Led Aquarium Light is a high-performance LED lighting solution for saltwater aquariums. The light is scientifically engineered to provide the perfect balance of PAR output and coverage, making it an ideal choice for marine SPS/LPS growth and coral lighting.
The RL90 WiFi Light is designed with WiFi/Smart APP control, allowing users to control all lights in a group simultaneously from their Android or iOS device. The light features natural simulation, with settings such as sunrise, sunset, 24-hour automatic cycle, 4 seasons, storm and more, allowing corals to feel like they are living and growing in nature.
The DIY mode also covers 24 hours, with an adjustable start time, end time and light color & brightness of each channel allowing users to customize the lighting to their own preferences. The light also features the “Acclimation” function, making it easier for users to acclimate their tank or new corals to the new light.
The PopBloom RL90 WiFi Led Aquarium Light is equipped with the best spectrum, providing perfect blue/uv pop bloom color, suitable for all photosynthetic corals. The light is a great choice for anyone looking for a high-performance LED lighting solution for their saltwater aquarium.
2. Classicled Plus Planted Aquarium Light, 15w, 18-24in, Timer & Temp. Adjustable
The NICREW ClassicLED Plus Planted Aquarium Light is a full-spectrum LED fish tank light with a timer controller and color temperature adjustment. Combining 6500K white, 450nm blue, TRUE 660nm deep red and green LEDs, this light creates a finely tuned color spectrum for an impressive color rendition with a high CRI of 91. The adjustable spectrum allows for more control flexibility, providing users with more options to adjust auto On/Off times and brightness. The light includes a 15 or 30-minute ramp-up and dim-down feature to simulate natural sunrise and sunset, waking the fish up in soft lighting and ensuring a good sleep with complete off at night.
The adjustable docking mounts on both sides provide an easy way for quick adaptability to fit most rimless and framed aquariums. Suitable for freshwater or saltwater fish and low-medium light level plants, the NICREW ClassicLED Plus Planted Aquarium Light is recommended to be used over glass or acrylic canopy-covered aquariums. It also features an aluminum alloy shell that helps with the best heat dissipation.
This light is a great option for anyone looking to add a bit of color and brightness to their aquarium. With its adjustable spectrum, adjustable brightness and adjustable timer feature, the NICREW ClassicLED Plus Planted Aquarium Light is an easy and effective way to light up any aquarium. Whether you have a freshwater or saltwater tank, this light is a great choice for any aquarium.
3. Auto On/off Led Aquarium Light With Lcd Monitor, 24/7 Cycle, 7 Colors, Timer, Ip68 Waterproof, 3 Modes (12"-18" Freshwater Planted Tank)
This hygger Auto On Off LED Aquarium Light is the perfect choice for aquarium lovers who want to create a natural-looking environment in their tank. Featuring a full spectrum of colors, this light is designed to simulate natural light without flickering and promote the growth of water plants and make the water look sparkly and clean.
The aquarium light has three programmable usage modes: DIY mode, day mode and night mode. In DIY mode, users can set the start and end time, light color and brightness of each time period with 8 time periods covering 24 hours. In day mode, users can set the brightness of the white light from 10% to 100%. In night mode, users can set the light color to one of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. The time of both day mode and night mode can be set freely.
For added convenience and safety, this aquarium light is designed with a wired controller with LCD monitor and IP68 waterproof rating. The controller has a built-in clock to keep time for the 24 hour settings and allows users to see the current time, current mode, running start time or running end time, current light color and brightness on the LCD display. It also features 1.2mm premium aluminum shell for better heat transfer and no fan and low voltage DC adapter for energy saving.
The aquarium light comes with everything you need: 1 x LED light with controller, 1 x AC/DC adapter, 2 x adjustable metal brackets, 1 x user manual. The 14W aquarium light has 29 white lamp beads, 4 red lamp beads, 2 green lamp beads, 11 blue lamp beads and 12 RGB lamp beads, providing a beautiful and realistic look for any aquarium.
This hygger Auto On Off LED Aquarium Light is ideal for 12”-18” freshwater planted tanks. It is easy to install, program, and use, and it is a great addition to any aquarium. With its adjustable timer, waterproof rating, and energy-saving design, this aquarium light is the perfect choice for any aquarium enthusiast.
4. Fluval Plant 3.0 Led Planted Aquarium Lighting, 46 Watts, 36-46 Inches
The Fluval Plant 3.0 LED Planted Aquarium Lighting is a powerful and effective LED lighting solution that allows you to create beautiful, lush planted aquariums with ease. Its 46 watts of power and 36-46 inch width make it the perfect light to illuminate a variety of aquariums.
To ensure optimal plant growth and health, the Fluval Plant 3.0 LED lighting includes programmable, gradual 24-hour light cycle settings, including sunrise, midday, sunset and night. With six unique band waves for full spectrum results and optional pre-set habitat light configurations such as Lake Malawi, Tropical, and Planted, this LED lighting solution is designed to recreate the natural light of the great outdoors.
The 120 degree light dispersion ensures full area coverage and uniform lighting, and the extendable mounting brackets allow for easy installation on a variety of aquarium widths. The brackets also provide maximum flexibility to adjust the lighting height and direction for optimal light distribution.
For hobbyists who want to create an aquarium with vibrant colors and lush plant growth, the Fluval Plant 3.0 LED Planted Aquarium Lighting is the perfect solution. With its adjustable light cycles and powerful full spectrum lighting, it is sure to provide a beautiful and healthy environment for your fish and plants.
5. 14w Clip On Led Aquarium Light, 9 Colors, Dual Timer, Adjustable Brightness
The hygger Clip On Full Spectrum Aquarium LED Light is an energy efficient and adjustable light system ideal for any planted tank. With 4 different modes, the light can be used to simulate sunrise and sunset with a gradient of orange and white light, or provide adjustable moonlight with 6 brightness levels and 7 colors. Additionally, it can also be used in both daylight and moonlight mode, or manually adjusted.
The clip style bracket makes installation easy and can be used for tanks up to 0.74 inches thick. Featuring 5 rows of high quality 2835 and 5050 model lamp beads for a natural, soft color rendering index, the light has a lifespan of at least 50,000 hours and is easy to maintain. The light can also be spliced for extra-long fish tanks, with 14W and 42W combinations for tanks up to 60 inches, and other free combinations. The extendable rod allows the position of the light in the middle of the tank to be adjusted back and forth.
The 14W Planted Aquarium Light has a power of 14W, 60 lamp beads (White:31PCS/BLUE:8PCS/ RED:7PCS/GREE:2PCS/ RGB:12PCS), a Color Rendering Index of 81.3, an application range of 11-19 inches, a 4.9ft+2.3ft power cord, an AC100-240V input voltage, a DC20V output voltage, a Kelvin temperature of White 6500K, Blue 455nm, Red 620nm, Green 560nm and a lumens rating of 895.0 lm.
The hygger Clip On Full Spectrum Aquarium LED Light is the perfect choice for any planted tank, with adjustable daylight and moonlight modes, 5 rows of lamp beads for a natural color rendering index and splicing options for extra-long fish tanks. With a long lifespan, easy installation and maintenance, this light is sure to provide your fish tank with the perfect illumination.
6. Auto On/off Led Aquarium Light, 30-36in, 7-Color Dimable, Timer, Freshwater Planted Tank.
The Hygger 957 Planted Aquarium Light is a powerful and reliable LED light fixture designed to create the perfect environment for your fish and aquatic plants. With its programmable gradual 24-hour cycle settings, you can customize the intensity and colors of the light, set up daytime to nighttime schedules, mimic sunrise and sunset, and much more.
The Sunrise and Sunset Functions allow you to program the LEDs to slowly turn on or off in 15-minute increments, eliminating light shock to your fish. The white daylight mode creates bright light by blending the white, red, green and blue LEDs together. The moonlight mode provides six single-colored LEDs (red, purple, blue, cyan, green, yellow) and 10 levels of dimmable options. One programmable preset can save customized color combinations and lighting.
In addition, the LED light fixture has an IP68 water-resistant rating and is safely powered by a low voltage DC adapter. The 1.2mm thick aluminum shell provides effective heat transfer and protects the device from humidity and water intrusion. The 30” freshwater aquarium LED fixture contains 79 6500K White LEDs, 14 450-455nm Blue LEDs, 8 620-625nm Red LEDs, 7 520-525nm Green LEDs, and 36 RGB LEDs. It has a 2365 lumens and a 6500-10000K lighting range. The adjustable mounting legs can fit aquariums with widths between 30 and 36 inches.
The Hygger 957 Planted Aquarium Light is an efficient and reliable way to provide your fish and aquatic plants with the perfect lighting. With its programmable settings, water-resistant rating, and adjustable mounting legs, this LED light fixture is the ideal choice for your freshwater aquarium.
7. 22w Aquarium Led Light, 10-Level Brightness, 24/7 Mode, Extendable Brackets (18-24in).
The fishkeeper LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum is the perfect lighting solution for your fish and aquatic plants. Utilizing 3 distinct light modes, white light, blue light, and 24 hours simulated natural light, this light provides 10 brightness levels that can be adjusted from 10%-100%. The light is made of high-quality aluminum alloy, and its 120° wide-angle lighting coverage ensures uniform lighting and no dead ends.
This aquarium light also features an IP68 waterproof grade, making it splashproof and waterproof, so that accidental falls into the water won't damage the light. It comes with two extendable brackets, making it suitable for 18-24 inch fish tanks. The power-off memory function ensures that the setting remains unchanged and the start time is restarted after power-on.
In addition, this aquarium light also has three timers to choose from, 6, 10 or 12 hours, and a 24/7 mode which can simulate the time of day and night. It is suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fish tank use and its thinness of 0.5in ensures adequate heat dissipation and a long service life of at least 50,000 hours.
Restoring the natural colors of your fish and aquatic plants, the fishkeeper LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum provides an excellent viewing effect and is designed to keep your fish and plants healthy. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact fishkeeper and they will be more than happy to help.
8. Clip-On Aquarium Light With White, Blue, Red Leds, 2 Modes
The NICREW Clip on Aquarium Light is the perfect light to enhance the aquatic life of your aquarium. This clip on light allows you to accurately view the plants, invertebrates, and fish in their natural colors with amazing shimmer. Ideal for a planted aquarium, this light offers two lighting mode options: daylight and nightlight.
The daylight mode features white, blue, and red LEDs for a more vibrant and naturalistic color. Each of these colors can be adjusted independently from 0% to 100% for greater customization. To make the transition easier for creatures to adapt to the changes in lighting, the light has a 30 minutes ramp-up and ramp-down.
The nightlight mode uses only the blue LEDs, giving off a calming effect. The Clip on Aquarium Light is suitable for planted tanks up to 5 gallons and can easily be mounted on and secured to the glass of framed or frameless aquariums up to 5/8''.
This light is a great way to bring life to any aquarium. Its adjustable colors, lighting modes, and ramp-up/ramp-down time make it a great choice for any tank. With the NICREW Clip on Aquarium Light, you can enjoy the beauty of your aquarium in its full colors.
9. 18w Led Aquarium Light With 24/7 Mode, 7 Colors, Timer & 3 Modes For 12"-18" Fish Tank
The Uelfbaby 24/7 Mode LED Aquarium Light is a 18W full spectrum fish tank light that is sure to bring life to any 12-18” freshwater planted tank. This aquarium light is packed with 66 high luminance LED lamp beads, including 30 RGB5054 light beads, 32 RGB2835 white light beads, and 4 purple light beads, with light colors between 380nm – 680nm wavelengths. These wavelengths are great for promoting the growth of plant root systems and leaf photosynthesis. Not only that, but this light system also comes with a 120-degree wide angle, ensuring that even the darkest corners of the tank are illuminated.
The 24/7 cyclic lighting of this aquarium light system is perfect for providing an even, natural light variation. This lighting system can be programmed to mimic the natural orange sunrise light, bright noon light, pale blue sunset light and blue night light. You can also customize the light system to be set between 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., 8:00 a.m. — 10:30 p.m., or 10:00 a.m. — 10:30 p.m. Furthermore, the light system comes with seven colors: red, green, blue, orange, yellow, cyan and purple. Each color can be adjusted to 5 different levels of brightness using the “+” or “-” button, from 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 10%. Lastly, the HG-169 aquarium lighting system also has 3 timer options to pick from, the 6hour, 10hour, and 12hour settings.
The Uelfbaby LED Aquarium Light has a great internal circuit board that is sealed using a waterproof technology, giving it an IP68-rated waterproof performance. The shell of the light system is made of brushed aluminum, allowing it to effectively dissipate heat and ensuring that the lights can operate stably. Moreover, this aquarium light system also has a memory function when powered on, meaning that you won’t need to set the timer from the beginning if you have set the 24/7 cyclic lighting mode.
The Uelfbaby 24/7 Mode LED Aquarium Light is sure to bring life to any 12-18” freshwater planted tank, and is backed by a warranty for extra peace of mind.
Best Aquarium Lights For Planted Tanks FAQs
Are LED lights good for planted aquariums?
Yes, LED lights are good for planted aquariums. LED lights provide the full spectrum light that plants need for photosynthesis. They also provide a good range of light color temperatures, so you can choose the light that best suits your plants’ needs. LED lights are also energy efficient, so they cost less to run than other types of aquarium lighting. They also last longer than other types of lighting, so you won’t have to replace them as often. Keep in mind that you’ll need to adjust the lighting depending on the types of plants you have, since some plants need more light than others. Additionally, make sure to use a timer so that your aquarium gets the right amount of light during the day.
Can you use aquarium lights as grow lights for plants?
Yes, aquarium lights can be used as grow lights for plants. These lights are typically equipped with fluorescent or LED bulbs, and they can provide an adequate amount of light for plants that don't need intense light. However, they are not suitable for plants that require high light levels, such as tomatoes and peppers. Furthermore, aquarium lights may not provide the correct spectrum of light for plants, so it is important to research what type of light is best for the plants being grown. In general, aquarium lights are best used for growing low light plants such as ferns and mosses.
How much LED light do I need for a planted aquarium?
The amount of LED light needed for a planted aquarium will depend on the type of plants you are growing, the size of the aquarium, and the desired effect. Low-light plants such as anubias, java fern, and mosses will require less light than higher-light plants such as stem plants and carpeting plants. Generally, you will need between 1-2 watts of LED light per gallon of water. This can vary depending on the type of plants you have and the depth of your aquarium. It is best to do some research on the specific plants you are growing in order to determine the appropriate amount of light. In addition to light, it is important to have adequate CO2 and fertilizer to ensure your plants remain healthy and vibrant.
What light should I use for my planted aquarium?
For a planted aquarium, you should use full-spectrum LED lighting. LED lights provide a wide range of colors, including red, blue, and green, which are essential for photosynthesis. The intensity of the light should be adjustable and the duration of the light should fall within the range of 10 to 12 hours per day. A timer is recommended to ensure that the light schedule is consistent. It is important to note that different plants require different levels of light, so research the specific plants you plan to incorporate in your aquarium to determine the appropriate level of lighting. Additionally, consider the size of your aquarium when selecting the proper wattage of your LED lamp. A larger aquarium will require more wattage than a smaller one.
