Lighting

All aquariums need light and the natural assumption is that daylight is the best for tank lighting. Many inexperienced aquarists place the tank in front of a window, which is probably the worst location. In theory daylight is the best for lighting an aquarium, but in practice it is not because biologically the light is filtered through glass and important ultraviolet rays are lacking. A bigger issue is that algae will thrive in such light, strangle plant growth, and can overtake the tank and ruin the look. Such diffuse light does not effectively light up the tank, and your fish, making them hard to see and the tank dull. Some daylight is beneficial and 3-4 hours of diffuse light a day in winter and 1-2 in summer is ideal for both the health of the fish and plants.

Artificial lighting is ideal, it gives the plants light for photosynthesis and growth and the fish look brighter, especially fluorescent fish such as Neon Tetras. The best lighting available is fluorescent lighting. It is cheap to setup, uses minimal electricity and stays relatively cool. A warm tint tube is best for the plants and gives the aquarium and attractive appearance. A 20 watt tube is sufficient for a 3 foot tank. There is a large range of tubes available in many tones, wattages, and colours for varying requirements, and your aquarium supplier will be available to assist you.