88 Marine Aquarium Centre SDN BHD

Most species of coral that we keep in aquarium feed on the by-products of symbiotic algae call zooxanthellae. Plants have the extraordinary ability to produce organic compounds from inorganic substances with the help of complex chemical call photosynthesis. Organisms capable of doing so are called autotrophic. The chemical reaction below show the formula of photosynthesis:

Light (energy) + 6CO2 + 6H2O = C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6HO2 (oxygen)

Zooxanthellae were first found in 1930. They live symbiotically with many invertebrate in marine life such as corals and clam. The oxygen and organic products of the zooxanthellae are sufficient or even exceeds the amount needed by their host for respiration and energy source. In another word, keeping the zooxanthellae alive is important in coral reefs keeping.

For many years, reef keepers have been searching for the best light source for coral keeping. Artificial light sources with the color temperature of about 6000 – 20000K are especially recommended for marine aquarist. Beside color temperature, the intensity is also very important as it needs to penetrate deep into the water of at least 18”.

There are mainly 3 groups of light sources that may be used to illuminate a coral reef aquarium;

Fluorescent Lamps
The fluorescent lamps have the advantage of an unbeatable low price compare to other light sources. It also produces less heat. However, it has a major disadvantage due to lack of intensity. To make good use of the lamp, a good reflector should always be use together with it. A combination of daylight with actinic blue light is most suitable for the use of fluorescent light in coral reef aquariums. Fluorescent lamp is not suitable for aquarium that have depth of more then 18” and we personally do not recommend it to illuminate invertebrate that need intense light such as acropora and maxima clam. The fluorescent lamps also lose a great deal of their light intensity as it get older. It should be replaced at least once or twice a year. As a guide, we need for about 4 – 8watts of fluorescent light energy per gallon of water.

Mercury Vapour Lamps (HQL)
HQL have the color temperature of 2900 – 4100K. HQL lamp have a higher intensity if compare to fluorescent but it produces a lot of heat and also UV radiation. The lamp should be use with UV shell protector.

Metal Halide Lamps (HQI)
Metal halide should be the light source that has come closest to the ideal lighting system in coral reef aquariums. It have color temperature of 3000 – 20000K and a good RA-in-dex (scale for quality of reproduction of light source. Scale runs from 0-100) which may be as high as 93. The bulb also usually came in with a special UV shell built in. The mixture of 10000 and 20000K HQI bulb will make the best result in a coral reef aquarium. As with HQL, it produces a lot of heat.

Fresh water fish only:

Aquatic plants:

Marine fish only:

Coral reefs:

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