
Fish Tanks Direct: 866.999.TANK (8265) sales@fishtanksdirect.com

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50 Gallons or Less & Complete Kits

Lighting

The aquarium lighting system is probably the most important component of a reef aquarium. It is often also the most difficult component to choose. After deciding between metal halide,VHO, or power compacts, the color temperature of the lamps must still be chosen. It would be nice if we could simply list a formula of "watts per gallon" or "watts per square foot of a tank", but when you take into consideration the different heights of tanks, and the different lighting requirements of soft corals, stony corals, clams, etc. it is apparent that these type of formulas will not work. There are many great books available on reef system and lamp types. To truly understand lighting we suggest your read them. However, if you just need some general information on lighting systems, or would like a recommendation on lighting system for a specific application, please feel free to contact us at 866-999-8265 or sales@fishtanksdirect.com.

HOW MUCH LIGHTING DO I NEED?
There is no easy answer to this. Experts recommend anything from a minimum of 1.5 Watts/gallon to a maximum of 6 Watts/gallon for reef tanks. The amount of light you need is very dependent on the types of invertebrates you have, the depth of your tank, and the spectrum of the lighting. Extremely deep tanks and tanks with a large number of stony corals might need from 4 Watts/gallon to 6 Watts/gallon. Tanks with just a few soft corals probably don't need metal halide lighting.

Fishtanksdirect.com is in process of upgrading there lighting category to make your shopping expierence easier. We will be carrying Coralife, Current and Hamilton units, if you need immediate assistance please contact us at 866-999-8265.

Our mission

Fish Tanks Direct Specializes in Acrylic Aquariums delivered right from the factory floor. Save thousands of dollars off of your next custom acrylic aquarium by shopping with us. We have been in the Fish Tanks industry for over 20 years and we have knowledgeable staff that will be happy to pick out the perfect acrylic aquarium for your home. Don't forget to shop by shape! We have a wide assortment of shapes that you can choose from which come in many of the popular sizes. Our customized fish tanks do not come with stand or canopy so you will have to order them separately. Many of the wood stains are minwax colors so check your local hardware store to see the actual color as the web can distort the actual color.

We also carry a full line of filters for your aquarium. We can perfectly match your aquarium up with a powerful protein skimmer and or canister filter. It is critical that you have proper filtration when purchasing your acrylic fish tank. Advanced hobbyists can take advantage of our low cost aquarium chillers. We have better brands at a lower price than many of our competitors. Need clean water? Passionate about getting rid of parasites? We carry Reverse Osmosis systems, UV sterilizers, and Ozonizers to fit any application. Simply ask one of our helpful staff members to help you out.