Metal halide lighting for the marine aquarium provides an enhanced and bright intensive light into the aquarium. A halide light is the most effective form of aquarium lighting required for keeping saltwater corals and marine aquarium reef inhabitants. A metal halide bulb creates the natural sun light effect on the water.
You can purchase an aquarium halide bulb from 123 Aquatics in a number of different temperatures ranging from 4500, 5500, 6500, 10,000, 120,000, 15,000 and 20,000K. The lower the ‘k’ of the metal halide lighting the whiter or yellower the light will appear and the higher the ‘k’ the bluer the light will appear. Typical reef aquariums prefer a blue light and so the 10,000 – 20,000k range would be more appropriate for a healthy tropical aquarium. For tropical aquarium with tropical aquarium plants a halide light with a lower ‘K’ around 5500 – 6500 would be appropriate ensuring the plants receive the light levels required for strong growth.
It is worth thinking about the heat that these lights emit as they will in some cases significantly increase the water temperature. The halides should be situated a distance away from the aquaria water surface in order to minimise the amount of heat transfer. It is worth considering an aquarium chiller to maintain a consistent water temperature where this is required.