Best Led Light For Planted Aquarium

Whenever you walk into a room with a lighted aquarium, you are immediately drawn to its beauty and you want to stare at it longer.

That’s why it is important that you choose the best light for your aquarium.

When you are buying the light, it is not just about choosing one that works great and provides enough light for the plants in the aquarium.

This calls for looking for the best LED light for planted tanks. Having the right light spectrum will help a lot with the photosynthesis process.

How To Choose The Best LED Lights For A Planted Tank?

Choose the Right Brand

If you are going to end up with the best LED light for your aquarium, you must always consider the brand. Choosing the right brand is important because the models available from the different brands vary.

When comparing models, make sure the one you choose comes from a reputable brand, not a generic or economy brand. You can learn more about each model by checking out its product description.

Keep in Mind the Light Spectrum

The light spectrum is a important factor for getting you the right type of output necessary for the growth of the plants.

The right spectrum should include as many colors as possible. This ensures that the plant will receive light that will promote the best possible photosynthesis process.

Consider the Control Features and Modes

One of the great features in some models is the different modes now available. You can have lights that can simulate sunrise, sunset and even nighttime.

With these modes, you can always switch between them to get the most out of the aquarium light so that it makes the room look great as well as nurturing your plant life.

As for the control features, you need a model that is easy to control. No need to have a complex model that makes it hard to get the right combination that you want in your planted tank.

The Ease of Installation

The installation process is always important to the user. You can have lots of trouble installing the aquarium light if you get one with a complex installation procedure.

You have to make sure to purchase a model with easy steps. It is possible to find a model that comes with adjustable frame and legs so that fitting it on the tank takes less time.

Check out what other people are saying about the model before you get it for yourself. You can tell from the reviews whether the model is easy to install or not.

The Durability of the LEDs

You would not want to end up with a model that doesn’t deliver consistent performance over time. You have to make sure that the model you choose has the best possible durability.

The durability is dependent on the material used to make the unit, and the type of LEDs used. Some LEDs might work great at first, but later on end up burning out in a short time.

What Size LED Light For Aquarium?

Once you have decided that LED lights are best for your aquarium, it is important to get the right size. LEDs are highly energy-efficient and give off less heat than other bulbs. As such, they tend to last longer.

Wattage Considerations

The light needs to make your fish feel comfortable. If there is too much or too little, it can disrupt eating and sleeping cycles.

Sizing for the Lights

The size of your tank and light matter. Most tanks require between one and three watts per gallon and plants need up to five watts a gallon.

Day/Night

Because the tank should mimic nature, you need downtime. Most kits illuminate the tank at night using blue shades. It’s also possible to find lights with timers to automatically change illumination to copy natural environments.

How Much LED Lighting For A Planted Tank?

Before you can buy the LED lighting for your planted tank, you have to understand the needs of the plants in your aquarium. Without this consideration, you just might end up with a lighting unit that does not deliver on the needs of the plant.

• Low-light plants need an average of 60 lumens per gallon.
• Average-light plants need about 110 lumens per gallon.
• The high-light plants need more, about 150 lumens per gallon

As you can see, some aquarium plants demand more light, based on their type. Learn more about the type of plants you plan to have in the aquarium before you buy the aquarium plants and light.

How To Choose The Best Planted Aquarium Leds

When choosing your LEDs, you’ll need to consider the following:

• Does it include a timer?
• The light spectrum
• Tank size vs. Light intensity
• What plants will be or are in your tank?

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 Fully Automated Aquarium LED

Designed for planted tanks, it uses a 24/7 automated system that allows you to mimic the Sun’s natural movement across the sky.

• This will run on real time and repeat daily.
• If you don’t want to use this, you also get four memory card slots. Where you can save your favorite color combinations and lighting intensities.
• It includes dimmable red, green, and blue LEDs, as well as 7000K daylight LEDs. You can control everything with the remote.
• Including the option for custom weather settings: thunderstorms, sunny and cloudy days etc.
• You can choose from five sizes: 20″, 24″, 30″, 36″, and 48″. The legs can also adjust, allowing you to optimize the length.
• This is a great option for low tech, mid-tech, and show tanks.

Pros:

• 24/7 automated day time/night time cycle
• Custom weather settings
• Remote Control is easy to use
• Specially designed for freshwater planted aquariums
• Easy to program
• High build quality and looks great
• Water resistant splash guard

Cons:

• Short power cord

A truly automated system for your freshwater aquarium. It will mimic natural daylight throughout the day from sunrise to sunset.

Aquatic Life LED EDGE

• A great option for both experts and novice hobbyists. It offers easy to use advanced features.
• Featuring a simple bright LCD timer on the end gives you quick, easy access to all the programming and timing functions.
• The 3-channel timer allows you to control the white, mixed color, and moonlight LED’s independent of each other. You gets more color combinations and lighting which replicates daylight, sunrise/set, and moonlight.
• You’re able to customize the ramp up and fade between 10 minutes and 2 hours.
• The backup battery will save your settings if it loses power.
• This light comes in a 24, 36, and 48″ light strip, and it’s very good looking.
• A acrylic cover lens protects the lights from accidental water spray and condensation. Improving the lifespan and durability.

Pros:

• Easy to program
• 3-Channel timer
• Internal battery backup that saves settings
• Dense array of LEDs provide even lighting
• Slow ramp up and fade (10 minutes to 2 hours)

Cons:

• Instruction manual isn’t the greatest (use YouTube)
• Built to sit on your tank, so cannot be hung over it

The Aquatic Life EDGE offers easy to use advanced features, making it good for both expert and novice aquarists.

Marineland Accent Hidden LED System

• A popular lighting system, the slim design is available at 17″. The legs will also adjust, allowing for a secure fit.
• The fixture includes 6500K white and RGB LEDs, providing you with the full spectrum of light.
• The controls are very easy to use and include lunar and daytime settings. The integrated timer allows for a consistent photoperiod.
• Dispersion lenses on the LEDs help to properly blend the light, dispersing it evenly throughout your tank. The 6500K LEDs feature a polycarbonate lens, which adds a nice natural shimmer.
• The ease of use and features available make this suitable for both beginner and seasoned hobbyists.

Pros:

• Very easy to program
• Integrated timer
• Dispersion and polycarbonate lenses
• Slim modern design
• Excellent customer service

Cons:

• Can get very hot after a few hours of running

Nothing over the top here, the Marineland LED fixture provides the full light spectrum for a budget friendly cost.

My Top Pick For The Best Planted Tank LED Light

It comes down to two for me:

The Finnex and the Aquatic Life. If it’s in your budget, I would say go for the Aquatic life.

Yes, it’s slight more expensive, but you’re getting a better build quality.

However, having said that. The Finnex is more than capable of providing the light you need and any other customizable options. It’s also much cheaper.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that you have seen some changes when it comes to aquarium lights. The technology has changed over the years and is now something that people want to use in their aquariums.

As a user, you always have to keep in mind, when choosing the type of light you are going to get, that not all of them providing the best light for your particular plants and fish.