So you have decided you want to keep an aquarium.

This can be an exciting hobby for just about anyone. You have probably decided on your tank size and even the type of fish you want to keep, but have you thought about the lighting for it. This is an often overlooked aspect of keeping an aquarium. Choosing the right lighting is very important to the success of keeping an aquarium.

In the past, most people thought of lighting for an aquarium as a means to see the fish inside. Today we know that lighting plays an important role for any system that contains photo synthetic organisms such as plants, anemones, or coral. Lighting also influences fish behavior, and is vital to a fish’s health. There are three general categories of lighting, these are normal output fluorescent lighting, compact fluorescent lighting, and high intensity metal halide lighting.

Normal output fluorescent lighting.

This is a standard florescent bulb which is great for illuminating both fresh water and salt water fish aquariums containing only fish. With this lighting system, you have a wide variety of bulbs to choose from depending on your particular needs. Here are some of the bulbs you can choose from.

* Color-Enhancing Bulbs - These bulbs put out a light from the "warmer" end of the color spectrum to supplement or enhance color.

* 50/50 or Actinic White Bulbs - This bulb is a blend of white and blue light that helps recreate marine light conditions. Generally, it is a combination of white light and blue actinic light. This light blend encourages photo synthetic coral growth and is pleasing to look at.

* Full Spectrum/Daylight Bulbs - Bulbs that put out all the wavelengths of visible light, and comes closest to the visual effects of natural sunlight. These general-purpose bulbs are ideal for all types of fresh and saltwater aquariums.

* Compact fluorescent lighting. These bulbs put out a higher light output than that of the standard fluorescent light systems. Instead of single tube bulbs, compact fluorescent systems incorporate two or three tube bulbs for greater light output from a single bulb. Since a single compact fluorescent light fixture can easily do the job of two standard fluorescent fixtures, it is a space-saving feature that makes compact fluorescent systems a great choice when upgrading from standard lighting system.

* Metal halide lighting. This is a high intensity discharge lighting system popular among many advanced aquarium hobbyists. These bulbs are made of a main glass bulb which has a series of wires connecting another glass bulb (arc tube) inside it. When electricity passes through the arc tube, the gases and metal salts within the tube produce light. Metal halide lighting fixtures are best suited for aquariums, such as reef aquariums, which have inhabitants that require high lighting conditions. This system also works great when used for very large aquariums or aquariums deeper than 24 inches where other lighting systems might not be powerful enough to provide adequate light.

Choosing the right lighting system for your aquarium is both a matter of personal preference and what is best for the occupants you are keeping. Choosing the right lights will enhance the beauty of your aquarium while keeping your fish healthy.