Tip of the Day – 10/5/2012

When placing lights above your aquarium, keep in mind that the angle at which the fixture points affects the amount of light that penetrates the water and the amount that is reflected off of the water’s surface. For most hobbyists, the reflection is kept at a minimum because the lights sit directly over the tank and point straight down. For others, however, the lights are arranged in a more creative way (either by necessity or by design) and are aimed at the aquarium at an angle. There’s nothing wrong with doing things this way, but as the angle becomes sharper, the amount of light bounced off the water’s surface will increase and a particular light fixture won’t be as affective in terms of depth penetration.