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Open Aquariums and Their Lighting

An open aquarium is an excellent choice for individuals seeking stylish and contemporary aquarium solutions. It is particularly favored by enthusiasts of Dutch, Japanese, or biotope aquarium styles. With its natural aesthetic, an open aquarium can serve as a stunning interior design feature, captivating the attention of visitors. Furthermore, it helps maintain better humidity levels in the room, which is beneficial for those with respiratory conditions.

Open aquariums do not have a lighting cover. Instead, they utilize lights mounted on beams or suspended fixtures. Lights mounted on the side edges or back wall of the tank are also commonly used, particularly for smaller “nano” tanks.

Why Illuminate the Aquarium?

There are two primary reasons for illuminating an aquarium. Firstly, it should look appealing and natural. The lighting should enhance the colors of fish and plants, making them vibrant and serving as an attractive décor element in the room. Secondly, many aquarists aim to cultivate healthy, thriving plants in their aquarium. Plants require light for 10-12 hours a day to facilitate photosynthesis—the process that converts inorganic compounds into organic nutrients essential for their survival. Thus, the right lighting is crucial for both aesthetics and plant health.

How Much Light Does an Aquarium Need?

The amount of light required depends on the plant species you intend to grow. Based on light requirements, plants can be categorized into three groups:

Group I – shade-tolerant species, including “pelia,” mosses, winged microsorium, screw moss, certain plants (e.g., Aponogetonofolia, Wendt’s assemblage, Backett’s assemblage, Malay assemblage), and anubias.

Group II – moderately light-loving species, such as ball-shaped seaweed, water-wort, roseworts, tiger lotus, ludwigia, broad-leafed water-wort, three-flowered water-wort, frogwort, broad-leafed dart, Argentine waterweed, giant common waterwort, compacts, limnophiles, small-leaved bacopa, Thai marmoset, ponikło, Japanese blyksa, and spearworts.

Group III – species that are highly photophilous, including cabombas, “glossostigma,” and hemianthus.

Typically, lighting power is calculated per liter of water in the aquarium. It is generally accepted that for LED lights supporting shade-tolerant plants, a minimum of 0.15-0.2 W per liter of water is needed. Medium-demanding plants require 0.25-0.4 W/l, while those that are highly light-loving may need 0.5-0.7 W/l.

A “day” in the aquarium can occur at virtually any time. If the tank is situated far from windows and relies solely on artificial lighting, the schedule for turning lights on and off can be flexible. Ideally, adjust the lighting times to match your presence at home (for example, “dawn” at 3 p.m. and “dusk” at 1 a.m.). This way, you can enjoy the beauty of your personal “piece of the underwater world” in well-lit settings.