NEMO AQUA STOREAquarium Lighting Guide
Light is food for plants — and for algae. Get the schedule and intensity right and a planted tank nearly runs itself; get it wrong and you fight green water forever.
How many hours?
- 6–8 hours a day is the sweet spot for planted tanks; fish-only tanks need even less.
- Use a ₹200 plug timer — consistency matters more than the exact number.
- New tank or algae outbreak? Cut to 6 hours and keep the tank out of direct sunlight.
How bright?
- Low-light plants (java fern, anubias, crypts, mosses): roughly 20–30 lumens per litre — most basic LED hoods qualify.
- Medium (swords, vallisneria, wisteria): 30–50 lm/L, like our planted LED light.
- High light without CO2 = algae. Match light to your plants, not the other way around.
Colour temperature
6500K–7500K (“daylight white”) grows plants best and shows fish colours naturally. Pure blue or pink-only lights are fine as accents, not as the main light.
Algae troubleshooting
- Green water / green glass: too many hours or sunlight — reduce to 6h on a timer.
- Brown dust (diatoms): normal in new tanks; wipes off and fades after a few weeks.
- Black brush algae: unstable conditions — steady photoperiod, more fast-growing plants (easy plants).
Frequently asked questions
6–8 hours daily on a timer for planted tanks. More than 10 hours almost always causes algae.
Yes — fish and plants both need a dark period. Leaving lights on 24/7 stresses fish and fuels algae.
Daylight white in the 6500K–7500K range grows plants well and renders fish colours accurately.
Check for sunlight hitting the tank, old light left too bright, or excess nutrients — reduce feeding and add fast-growing plants.
Related: Planted LED Light · Beginner plants
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