Aquarium plants need light to survive. In this article, we will explore what color LED light is best for aquarium plants and why.
We will also discuss the benefits of using LED lights for aquarium plants and some of the drawbacks.
If you are thinking about adding plants to your aquarium or if you have already started, this article is for you.
Types Of Aquarium Plants And Light Requirements
In order to understand what color led light is best for aquarium plants, it better to take a look at the types of aquarium plants available. There are main kinds of aquarium plants, and each one has different light requirements.
For example, some aquarium plants need high levels of light while others can do just fine with low levels of light.
Examples of aquarium plants that require high levels of light are;
- stem plants,
- Java Moss,
- Anubias barteri,
- Amazon Frogbit, to mention a few.
Also, a few examples of aquarium plants that can tolerate low light levels are;
- Java Fern,
- Hornwort,
- Cryptocoryne Wendtii, and so on.
The type of aquarium plant you have or choose will determine the color of LED light you need.
So, as you can see, there is a big difference in the light requirements of different aquarium plants.
This is important to keep in mind when choosing plants for your aquarium because if you don’t provide the right amount of light, your plants will not survive.
Now that we have a general understanding of the light requirements of different aquarium plants let’s take a look at what color LED light is best for them.
What Color LED Light is Best for Aquarium Plants?
Generally, a good balance of red, blue, and green LED lights will help aquarium plants grow well and healthy.
However, there are LED light colors that have a high color temperature than others–which are considered to have a low color temperature.
For example, red has the lowest color temperature with its gradually increasing in orange, yellow, white, and blue. In fact, blue is the highest color temperature.
It has been found that blue LED light colors are best for aquarium plants because these plants are usually submerged underwater, and blue lights offer better penetration into the water to give the plants all the necessary light they need.
As mentioned before, different aquarium plants would require different light levels, in which case you may find that you need a combination of different colors to provide the right amount of light for all your plants.
While blue LED lights are the best for aquarium plants, red color LED lights are also good for them. Red LED lights help aquarium plants to grow faster, and they also promote flowering in some plants.
The only challenge with red color LED lights is they do attenuate faster in water than blue LED lights.
Benefits Of Blue LED Light Color For Aquarium Plants
As we have seen, blue LED light is the best color for aquarium plants. Here are some benefits of using blue LED lights for your aquarium plants:
1. Blue LED Lights Help Aquarium Plants Grow Faster
Blue LED lights help aquarium plants to grow faster because they provide the right amount of light that these plants need.
Aquarium plants need light for photosynthesis–which is the process that helps them to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Without light, photosynthesis cannot take place, and your aquarium plants will not be able to grow.
2. Blue LED Lights Provides The Right Wavelength
Blue LED lights provide the right wavelength of light that helps aquarium plants to grow faster and healthier.
Surprisingly, different colors of light have different wavelengths. For example, blue light has a shorter wavelength than red light.
It is the shorter wavelength that helps blue LED lights to penetrate deeper into the water to reach the aquarium plants. This is why blue LED lights are considered to be the best for aquarium plants.
3. Blue LED Lights Promote Flowering In Aquarium Plants
In some aquarium plants, blue LED lights help to promote flowering. For example, in the case of the Cryptocoryne plant–which is a common aquarium plant–blue LED lights help these plants to flower.
So, if you have Cryptocoryne plants in your aquarium and you want them to flower, then you should use blue LED lights.
4. Blue LED Lights Offer Best Water Penetration
As we have seen, blue LED lights offer better water penetration than other colors of light. This is because blue light waves are shorter than other colors of light.
This means that they can penetrate the water better and reach the plants at the bottom of the aquarium.
Blue LED lights also have a higher growth rate for aquatic plants than other colors of light. This is because blue light promotes photosynthesis in plants.
Photosynthesis is the process that plants use to convert light into energy. This energy is used by the plant to grow and reproduce.
5. Blue LED Lights Does Not Promote Algae Growth
One of the main problems that aquarium owners face is algae growth. Algae are small aquatic plants that can quickly take over an aquarium if they are not kept in check.
What many people don’t know is that different colors of light promote algae growth at different rates. For example, white light promotes algae growth more than blue light.
So, if you are looking to prevent algae growth in your aquarium, then you should use blue LED lights.
6. Blue LED Lights Creates A Calming Effect On Fish
Blue LED lights are also known to have a calming effect on fish. The main occupants of your aquarium are fish, and you want to make sure that they are happy and healthy.
One way to do this is to use blue LED lights because they have a calming effect on fish. This means that your fish will be less stressed and more likely to stay healthy.
Stressed fish are more susceptible to diseases, so it is important to use blue LED lights to keep them healthy.
7. Blue LED Lights Are Good For All Types of Aquarium Plants
Need I say more? Blue LED lights are good for all types of aquarium plants. Whether you have floating plants, rooted plants, or even live plants–blue LED lights will help them to grow. So if your aquarium is filled with different types of plants, then you should use blue LED lights.
LED Light Colors That Are Not Good For Aquarium Plants
While blue LED lights are good for aquarium plants, there are some colors of LED light that are not. These colors include white, yellow, and green. Here’s why!
White light is not good for aquarium plants because it promotes algae growth. As we have seen, algae are small aquatic plants that can quickly take over an aquarium if they are not kept in check.
White light promotes algae growth more than blue light, so it is best to avoid using white LED lights in your aquarium if you can.
Generally, aquarium plants use very little yellow and orange light. This means that these colors of light are not necessary for plant growth. In fact, too much yellow and orange light can actually be harmful to aquarium plants.
Aquarium plants do not have any use for green lights, so it is best to avoid using green LED lights in your aquarium as well.
Best Blue LED Lights For Aquarium Plants
Here are some of the best blue LED lights that you can use for your aquarium plants:
1. GloFish Blue LED Light
This blue LED light strip is specifically designed for aquariums. It is easy to install and comes with a remote control so that you can easily turn it on and off.
The GloFish Blue LED Light Strip also has a built-in timer so that you can schedule when the lights turn on and off. This is convenient if you want the lights to turn on and off at specific times of the day.
The light strip is also waterproof so you don’t have to worry about it getting wet.
2. MingDak Submersible LED Aquarium Light
This blue LED light is submersible and can be placed directly into the water. It has a suction cup so that you can attach it to the side of your aquarium.
The MingDak Submersible LED Aquarium Light comes with a remote control so that you can easily turn it on and off. It also has a built-in timer so that you can schedule when the light turns on and off. This light is also waterproof and has a long lifespan.
Now that you know what color LED light is best for aquarium plants, you can choose the right light for your aquarium. Blue LED lights are the best choice for promoting plant growth and preventing algae growth.
So, if you are looking for a color of LED light that is good for aquarium plants, then you should choose blue.
3. COVOART LED Aquarium Light
This blue LED light is designed to be placed on the outside of your aquarium. It has a suction cup so that you can attach it to the side of your aquarium.
The COVOART LED Aquarium Light comes with a remote control so that you can easily turn it on and off. It also has a built-in timer so that you can schedule when the light turns on and off. This light is also waterproof and has a long lifespan.
Now that you know what color LED light is best for aquarium plants, you can choose the right light for your aquarium.
Blue LED lights are the best choice for promoting plant growth and preventing algae growth. So, if you are looking for a color of LED light that is good for aquarium plants, then you should choose blue.