For a fish enthusiast like me, Clownfish is one of those fish that you can easily fall in love with. Originally belonging to the Pacific and Indian oceans, I could not help but fall in love with this breed. They are not only adorable but also easy to care for!
As for building an aquarium for the clownfish, I used to believe the false misconception that all fish like blue-colored lights. Yet, that is not true, especially in the case of clownfish. This fish type neither likes blue lights nor does it need it in the first place.
In this article, I will be answering questions such as the effects of blue lights in a reef tank, what lighting clownfish admire and how much, and a lot more!
Is Blue Light Good for Corals?
I have noticed that when all blue LED lights have got an adequate amount of PAR, corals will grow and remain healthy. However, I cannot guarantee the color of them as they will wear out with time if wavelengths of light are used on them.
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The light for which the algae that my corals use to grow are mostly blue. Also, I make use of a little red light to fulfill the purpose of photosynthesis. I changed my lights after learning that a specific type of blue light spectrum is through and through accountable for the springing up of corals.
A particular range of wavelengths surrounds the blue light spectrum. I have found out that it motivates the formation of brand new calcification to a considerable extent. This, in turn, has an emphasis on the corals’ skeleton.
Note that other fragments of the blue light directly seem to contribute their share in bringing different shades to corals. They act as an incentive to produce more and more coral pigments. The same is known as chromoproteins, which give us the appearance of bright and eye-catching shades.
What Do Blue Lights Do in the Reef Tank?
After I questioned some of the leading reef-keeping experts, I found out that the lighting operated in a reef aquarium can prove to be dangerous to the well-being of the occupants there.
People must understand that the type or amount of light needed for fish and corals is not alike. It varies from time to time.
Talking about the appearance of the fish tank, Blue LEDs and fluorescent tubes can surely do wonders! The emerging blue light will aim to deliver a generous amount of coral colorings. This will give off light, which will turn to fluorescence.
Get LED lights that can be dimmed or the ones that can have their illumination decreased in brightness. With those, I suggest running the blue lights for not more than 3 hours straight.
What Lighting Do Clownfish Like?
In fact, clownfish do not require lighting at all. If you want to add lights, you can put in some LED lights for the sake of the coral. Make sure that you bring in blue-colored lights.
How Much Light Do Clownfish Need?
Even though I do not have an exact answer as to how much amount of light clownfish needs, one thing is certain – there is no need to place them in surroundings that have direct sunlight over them. The tank must be positioned in such a way that there is indirect sunlight coming in.
In some cases, fish keepers say that the Clownfish does not require light at all. This opinion rests on the fact that when there is absolutely no ray of light, the vibrant colors of a clownfish are generally overlooked.
Half a day with light and the other half without light should be sufficient enough. Usually, I find my clownfish cozy up in their coral or any other gap for the night.
What Color Light is Best for Coral Growth?
It is believed that the blue light spectrum is needed for the ideal development of corals. Some were under the misconception that white light is the best for their growth. However, that is not true.
Blue light supports the encouragement of coral reef calcification. During this process, the corals are said to have formed their bases of skeletons enriched with calcium.
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As per a recent study, blue light helps to upsurge the amount of Zooxanthellae in corals as well. Not only this but it also helps increase the levels of Chlorophyll A in these algae.
Chlorophyll A does the work of absorbing wavelengths. For this, the wavelengths must be in the range of 440 nm and 675 nm. Blue light has a much shorter wavelength, which is estimated between 450 and 495 nm.
Without a doubt, I can say that it is the best color light for meeting the photosynthetic requirements of Chlorophyll A.
Blue light does not limit its benefits to coral growth only. It would come as a surprise to learn that it also has a helping hand and can also help in the production of chromoproteins. So, it has an effect on the coral’s pigmentation.
Learn About the Balance Between Blue and White Lights
I am not saying that there is absolutely no need for white light at all. It is just that corals feel the need for blue light more than white. The reason is – they help me to catch a glimpse of their corals and also the stuff in the tank in a better way.
Apparently, white light carries with itself, minute green as well as yellow elements. These fine particles are called spectrums that can be easily perceived by the human eye.
With that being said, no one is stopping you from selecting your color palate. I have noticed some aquarists make use of the traditional white and blue in equal proportions.
But, let me tell the readers that when you do so, it is necessary to keep your white light’s concentration lower than 50%. This is because the intensity of newer lights is very bright. This can act as a means of a shock to the corals and also slow down their growth.
Conclusion
Thus, in this way, I hope I am successful in making you understand that clownfish do not like blue lights. Although having no lights around them at all would be great!
If you want to continue keeping the lights on, switching them off at night or after a time period of three hours is very necessary.