11 Best Lights for Coral Growth in 2024

By Robin Owens 8 days ago, Additional Gear

Affordable and high-quality lights for coral growth.

top 3 light for coral growth

Finding the best light for coral growth is really important if you want to complement a reef tank. Keeping corals in an aquarium can be challenging in low-light conditions. If you are an inexperienced user, picking a reef tank light may seem relatively tricky. LED systems for growing corals are available in numerous sizes and configurations, so you need to research the market before making a purchase.

Top 11 Best Lights for Coral Growth

  1. HIPARGERO LED - Our Choice
  2. ARKNOAH LED - Full Spectrum
  3. NICREW Saltwater - LED
  4. Relassy Aquarium - For Saltwater
  5. Lominie LED Aquarium - Affordable
  6. VIPARSPECTRA LED Aquarium - Timer Control
  7. Phlizon Aquarium LED 20x7 - Reef Decoration
  8. NICREW Aquarium 30-36 inch - Popualar
  9. GYIELDS Aquarium - For 30 Gallon
  10. Phlizon Aquarium LED 16x8 - Designed
  11. NICREW Aquarium 36-48 inch - Budget

If you don’t want to go through the shopping process on your own, use this comprehensive guide. We've tested and selected the top 11 options for you to understand which light source suits you most. Follow the links below to get a deeper look at the models described.

1. HIPARGERO LED

Our Choice
hipargero led  light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 30W | Voltage: 110V | Color Temperature: 3000K

  • ✚ Comes with mount and everything you need to be up and running in five minutes.
  • ✚ Very quiet
  • ✚ Runs cool; rarely get warm enough for the fans to kick on.
  • Not reliable
Rating

HIPARGERO LED grow light for coral growth very easy to install. One reviewer claimed that it was hard to install, but that it was actually pretty straight forward. But the one disadvantage of the light is that it doesn't produce very good color at all. It might not be good enough for other plants like bantams, herbs, or roses if they're looking for a nice healthy green color, but it might be a big deal for corals.

The two other things that reviewers find negative about the light is the size and price. They both seem to be fair criticisms, as the LED grow light for coral is cheaper than most HPS, and is about twenty dollars at eBay. So for anyone looking to purchase a grow light, whether for indoor or outdoor use, the HIPARGERO LED grow light might be a decent choice.

2. ARKNOAH LED

Full Spectrum
arknoah led light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 165W | Voltage: 120V | Color Temperature: 3000K

  • ✚ Full spectrum
  • ✚ Adjustable
  • ✚ Dimmable
  • High price
Rating

If you're considering an LED grow light for your corals, but aren't sure what to look for or which one to get, you will want to know about ARKNOAH LED Light. While the initial cost of their bulbs is generally higher than all other forms of grow lights, the long term cost effectiveness and energy efficiency that they provide are well worth the initial investment.

One of the key pros to using an ARKONAH LED light for coral is that they provide consistent light for the duration of the growing season. This ensures that no matter how much time you invest in your growing, it will receive the light that they require.

3. NICREW Saltwater

LED
nicrew saltwater light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 32W | Voltage: 100-240V | Color Temperature: 10000K

  • ✚ Dual-channel timer
  • ✚ Bright even light
  • ✚ Energy efficient
  • Program the timer/intensity can be hard
Rating

The new NICREW saltwater grow light for home aquarium enthusiasts is a high performance, state of the art lighting system. It is fully adjustable to provide bright even light for corals or plantless aquarium. It also features a very cool and crisp white mercury lamp, great for under lighting tropical fish. The cons of the light are not overly difficult to overcome with proper care.

The primary benefits of this type of lighting is the ability to provide a high quality of light without the expense of fluorescent lamps. This also means more light for less energy. The ability to produce light for many hours at a time is a great benefit for reef aquarium enthusiasts. They are also able to control the brightness of the light bulb by selecting between a low or high setting for intensity, or a setting to control the amount of light emitted at any given time.

4. Relassy Aquarium

For Saltwater
relassy aquarium light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 300W | Voltage: 120V | Color Temperature: 3000K

  • ✚ Easy to use
  • ✚ Full spectrum
  • ✚ Artificial sunlight
  • High price
Rating

For those who are not aware of Relassy aquarium grow light, it is basically a light that is put inside an aquarium to facilitate the plant life that will be grown. The good thing about this light is that it can provide artificial sunlight so that you can have a safe environment without exposing your corals to the sun. Just like any other fish tank, you should also have the right lighting in order for everything to function well and efficiently.

Relassy is very easy to use so that you don't need to be a specialist in aquariums in order for you to be able to have this. This is one of the best things that you can like in the product. Aside from that, you will be also able to get the light that they wanted and have managed to grow some healthy corals.

5. Lominie LED Aquarium

Affordable
lominie led aquarium light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 16W | Voltage: 100-240V | Color Temperature: 6500K

  • ✚ Energy efficient
  • ✚ Reliable
  • ✚ Automatic shut off feature
  • Power cable should be longer
Rating

The Lominie LED aquarium grow light is considered to be one of the better ones in the market today. Fact that because of the durability and reliability of this kind of light, this is becoming choice for reef aquariums as well as community tanks. Aside from being extremely reliable, it is also great in terms of being environment-friendly and provides sufficient light for proper marine life. It has been highly reviewed by experts and aquarists alike and some of the pros and cons of the light are covered in this reef aquarium review.

One of the pros of using Lominie LED aquarium grow light is that it uses much less energy than other underwater light sources. That means less power consumption for your reef aquarium and this will save you money. Another advantage of the light is that it features automatic shut off feature which means that you do not need to physically touch the switch to turn it off.

6. VIPARSPECTRA LED Aquarium

Timer Control
viparspectra led aquarium light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 165W | Voltage: 100-240V | Color Temperature: 12000K

  • ✚ Modular construction
  • ✚ Timer
  • ✚ Long lifespan
  • High price
Rating

There are many pros and cons to the VIPARSPECTRA LED aquarium grow light review. The main feature of this light system is its modular construction. You can expand the light system to other aquariums with ease.

Some of the cons about the VIPARSPECTRA LED aquarium grow light are the price, but overall the light system is priced right. The cost can be obtained through different sources like aquarium stores or even on the internet. One of the pros about the light system is the fact that it has over 1800 hours life span. This is more than most lights have under normal use.

7. Phlizon Aquarium LED 20x7

Reef Decoration
phlizon aquarium led 20x7 light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 165W | Voltage: 100-240V | Color Temperature: 12000K

  • ✚ Full spectrum
  • ✚ Energy efficient
  • ✚ Unique design
  • High price
Rating

For most reef aquarium enthusiasts, the light from the Phlizon aquarium LED light 20x7 beats the fluorescent light hands down when it comes to efficiency and power consumption. It also beats the HID light by quite a bit when it comes to lighting a reef aquarium.

The Phlizon light did warn reef aquarium hobbyists about using the lights at night, because the light from these lights can be pretty harsh for sensitive reef corals. However, the Phlizon review did address this safety concern, because the light from the Auqair LED aquarium light fixtures can be turned on even when there is no light at all in the tank, and it turns off with just the flip of a switch.

8. NICREW Aquarium 30-36 inch

Popualar
nicrew aquarium 30-36 inch light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 32W | Voltage: 100-240V | Color Temperature: 12000K

  • ✚ Bright light
  • ✚ High build construction
  • ✚ Easy to use
  • ✚ It does not emit heat
  • No off or on button
Rating

For anyone who has a passion to keep and preserve marine life in a reef aquarium setup, the NICREW 30-36 inch aquarium qrow light is without a doubt one of the best lights that can be found in the market today. If you are a beginner who wants to start off on an aquarium lighting system, this may be a good option for you to look into. One of the most important things that should be taken into consideration when setting up an aquarium setup is the light sources.

There are a lot of different lights that you can choose from, but the NICREW light offers a lot of benefits. The first of these is that it is considered as the best grow light to use for freshwater tanks. Another benefit is that it does not emit heat, which could be dangerous for the fish in the aquarium that you want to keep.

9. GYIELDS Aquarium

For 30 Gallon
gyields aquarium light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 165W | Voltage: 85-265V | Color Temperature: 12000K

  • ✚ Low noise
  • ✚ Truly transparent
  • ✚ Dual dimmable channels
  • ✚ Full spectrum
  • Not reliable
Rating

If you are thinking of purchasing a reef aquarium then you need to know that the GYIELDS aquarium grow light is the only option out there for you. They have been promoting their product for years with claims of being the best light source for reef aquariums. Others have tried the lights and have written reviews about how well it worked and how easy the system is to operate.

The first thing that we noticed when reviewing the GYIELDS aquarium grow light was how quiet it was compared to other light sources for reef aquariums. Compared to other grow lights for general use, this one is very easy on the ears but it does function well. It is similar to some of the other lights for coral growth and works great.

10. Phlizon Aquarium LED 16x8

Designed
phlizon aquarium led 16x8 light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 165W | Voltage: 110V | Color Temperature: 12000K

  • ✚ Durable
  • ✚ Dimmable
  • ✚ Easy to install
  • High price
Rating

Aside from benefits, the Phlizon aquarium LED light 16x8 is also considered to be brighter than any ordinary light sources, which makes it ideal for general lighting purposes. It can provide light to the entire tank for about two hours every day and at night time, it can provide a good amount of light for feeding your corals.

Unlike other lights, this one does not require any mounting or wiring since it can be permanently fixed on the tank bottom. In addition to this feature, it is also very durable and long lasting which means that it will last for several months. It is very easy to install and comes with several accessories making it a perfect fit for any kind of aquarium. All in all, the Phlizon LED aquarium grow light is a very powerful light source that is a great option if you are looking for a good quality light source for your reef aquarium.

11. NICREW Aquarium 36-48 inch

Budget
nicrew aquarium 36-48 inch light for coral growth

Light Source Wattage: 21W | Voltage: 100-240V | Color Temperature: 6500K

  • ✚ Two lighting modes
  • ✚ Full spectrum fish tank light
  • ✚ Very easy to set up and use
  • ✚ Afforable
  • The controller should just come with this unit
  • Brightness could be better
Rating

For anyone looking for an indoor aquarium light, the name NICREW aquarium 36-48 inch grow light is self-sufficient enough. It features a light that has the capacity to support marine life. Although, it is very expensive, the features it possesses and the unique design it comes with makes it one of the most sought after lights in the market.

As what many people would expect, a typical downside of this aquarium light is the brightles. Also, for those who are just starting their hobby or are first timers to have an aquarium, they might find it hard to afford the expense of having this light in their homes, so NICREW is truly for them. The next best thing about this light compared to other brands is that it is very easy to set up and use. All you have to do is to connect the three wires found at the back of the aquarium to the three power points.

IMAGE NAME FEATURES
hipargero led  light for coral growth
HIPARGERO LED
Our Choice
  • Comes with mount and everything you need to be up and running in five minutes
  • Very quiet
CHECK PRICE
arknoah led light for coral growth
ARKNOAH LED
Full Spectrum
  • Full spectrum
  • Adjustable
CHECK PRICE
nicrew saltwater light for coral growth
NICREW Saltwater
LED
  • Dual-channel timer
  • Bright even light
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the Light for Coral Growth?

how to choose the best light for coral growth

Why and how to Choose the Grow Lights for Corals?

When We started setting up my first marine aquarium, people rarely used LEDs. The most widely-used lighting options were Power Compact, T5s, and metal halides. However, all of them have numerous downsides.

  • Power Compact is an affordable lighting fixture but is suitable for growing only soft corals.
  • T5 has an average price tag and is used for growing LPS corals. However, you need to replace bulbs every year.
  • Metal Halide is suitable for SPS corals, but they are rather expensive and produce much heat.

When LED reef lights have appeared in the market, they made the coral growing process more efficient. LEDs incorporate the benefits of all types of lighting setups while omitting the negative aspects. Here are just a few reasons why it is worth investing in LEDs.

They Are Capable of Sustaining Any Type of Coral

Before LEDs appeared on stage, you could select lighting systems only according to the coral reefs you were going to keep. Most beginners start with easy corals and often decide to switch to hard stony options. With the LED system, you don’t need to do any adjustments. Moreover, having LEDs at hand, you can keep different types of corals in one reef tank.

how to choose the best light for coral growth

They Don’t Put off a Lot of Heat

PC, T5, and metal-halide lamps produce much heat. If you use such lighting systems, you need to get aquarium coolers to balance the water temperature. However, keep in mind that aquarium and reef tank chillers are relatively expensive.

LEDs are more energy-efficient and produce less heat than other lighting options. With the LED setup, you don’t need a cooler. Apart from saving electricity, it reduces the risk of fire.

They Are Compact in Size

Usually, LED reef lights are more compact compared to other lighting options. Some models like AI Prime and Kessil A160WE have a size of a soda can. This light system not only saves space in your aquarium, but also produces a natural and neat look in your tank.

They Last Incredibly Long

When We used a T5 fixture to illuminate my reef tank, We had to buy new bulbs every 8 months. Besides having difficulties with finding the special bulbs in stock, We paid a fortune for them. Usually, it is cheaper to change a lighting setup than replace the bulbs in a T5 fixture.

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