Fluorescent Lighting vs. Compact Fluorescent Lighting

There are advantages and disadvantage to each type of aquarium lighting. Some may be more suitable for particular types of aquariums than others.

For a standard aquarium kept in a living room, fluorescent bulbs are probably the most practical choice. Energy-efficient and safe, they are a staple for hobbyists who intend to keep only tropical fish.

Those with reef and planted freshwater aquariums, however, may find it more effective to use multiple fluorescent bulbs or a combination of different types of lighting to achieve the desired result.

The human eye and plants respond to light differently, so a good mix of different types of bulbs would help get the best results for plant growth and at the same time create the desired visual impact.

Fluorescent Lighting

The bulbs are basically long glass tubes which contain phosphor bits. When an electrical current runs through the tube, these phosphors heat up and activated to emit visible light. Different mixture of phosphors will give different spectrum, intensity, and color properties.

Fluorescent bulbs come in different colors, wattages, and lengths. Bulbs are rated according to milliamp. Most are inexpensive and have a relatively long bulb life.

• Regular output: about 400 milliamps
• High output (HO): about 800 milliamps
• Very high output (VHO): about 1200 milliamps

VHO fluorescent bulbs give great results in lumen production (the brightness of light as perceived by human eyes) and keep a low running heat. Another advantage is that the bulbs are available in many color renditions, so it’s easy to mix and match.

Compact Fluorescent Lighting

This form of lighting can be simply described as fluorescent light on steroids. Powerful and energy-efficient, it is an economical source of high-intensity light.

Compact fluorescent lights are smaller than fluorescent tubes but produce much more light. This means they offer high efficacy in deeper tanks, as light intensity diminishes significantly with every inch of water it has to penetrate.

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