Do you currently have a fish only with live rock (FOWLR) saltwater tank in need of new lights?
If so, you are in the right place.
Not everyone in the hobby is able to keep a full reef tank with thriving corals. That requires a specific quality and type of lighting in order to successfully maintain corals.
Fish only saltwater tanks are very popular and you can showcase your fishes colors by using LED lighting.
One of the big differences between a saltwater tank with corals and a fish only tank is the quality of light being used.
Fish do not require a specific type of light as corals do.
There are some great LED lighting systems on the market that will make your tank look amazing and bring out the intense colors of your fish.
The great thing is you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank on these lights. They are affordable and work great.
Here are the best-LED lighting units for FOWLR tanks.
Current USA Orbit Marine LED
The Current USA is my top choice as it does a great job bringing out the colors of your fish.
This is an affordable quality light that is controllable with many different light settings.
This light also provides a really nice water shimmer which most people like to see in their tank. You have the ability to control several modes like storm and cloud cover modes, auto-dimming sunset, and moonlight.
This light has some really great features. Its modern-looking slim design is a popular choice and will suit any saltwater tank.
Features and info:
- Ultra-bright LED’s in a wide color spectrum
- Can be added to the LOOP system to control pumps as well
- Multiple modes all controlled with the included controller
- Extendable brackets to fit different sized tanks
- Create a 24-hour natural lighting cycle which benefits your fish
- 120-degree lenses for better light splay
- Acrylic lens provides waterproof protection
- Sleek low profile design
- Available in many different sizes from 18” to 60”
- Lightweight and easy to install
- Can be used on tanks with corals as well.
Pros:
- Great quality for the cost
- Many settings and modes
- LOOP system
Cons:
- The controller takes a while to get used to.
Check out today’s price of the Current Orbit Marine LED on Amazon here.
Check out this article showing my review of the Viparspectra LED lighting system!
Lifegard Aquatics Full Spectrum LED
This Lifegard Aquatics high output LED lighting system is a perfect choice for adding color to your tank and enhancing fish colors.
The slim design is very modern looking and comes in a variety of sizes from 18” to 48”. It is an overall great general purpose light that can be used as your main light or an additional light to your current lighting.
Features and info:
- Great quality and price
- Full-spectrum ranges from 6500K – 9000K LED’s
- Waterproof touch control light switch
- 3 modes – On/Off, lunar, daytime
- Quality low profile design
- Energy efficient
- Runs cool
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Includes adjustable brackets
- Lengthy single power cord
Pros:
- Affordable for a quality light
- Doesn’t get warm
- Reliable
Cons:
- Would like to see a timer/controller built-in
AquaticLife Reno 36” WIFI LED
If you have a 3-foot or 36” FOWLR tank, this is a great lighting option for you. This light is fully controllable using a phone app. It is easy to control and the RGB LED’s allow for full customization of colors.
This is also a great light for planted aquariums too. But since we are just talking saltwater tanks, don’t worry about the plants!
Features and info:
- Affordable and quality design
- Adjustable full spectrum LED’s
- Excellent water shimmer
- WIFI, cloud, manually controlled
- Group multiple units together and control at the same time
- Adjustable width frame mounts
- Free cloud account included
- Energy efficient
- Easy to control, clean, and maintain
Pros:
- Built-in WIFI
- Great price
- Full control of colors
Cons:
- There have been reports of light dropping the WIFI signal. But if it’s properly set up this shouldn’t be a problem.
Nicrew Classic LED Gen 2
This light is an upgrade from the previous Nicrew LED model.
The Gen 2 model now has more LEDs that are 50% brighter, which is great for bringing out the colors of your fish.
The Nicrew Classic Gen 2 LED is very affordable and gets many 5-star ratings on Amazon.
Features and info:
- Includes an inline LED controller for white and blue channels
- Both channels can be operated together or independently
- Adjustable mounting brackets to fit different sized tanks
- Durable aluminum alloy shell
- Compatible with the Nicrew timer
- Energy efficient with LED’s designed to last up to 50,000 hours
- Low profile and lightweight design
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Plenty of 5-star reviews
- Inline controller
Cons:
- Reports of the power adapter missing in the box
LED lighting for FOWLR saltwater tanks – Summary
Any of the mentioned LED lighting systems are a great choice for your fish only saltwater tank.
There are a variety of options and prices, so have a look at each of them to see which one will suit your tank the best.
The great thing about fish only tanks is that you don’t need any fancy high-end expensive lights. Unless you want to spend extra to have high-end lights.
For most people, as long as the light is full-spectrum and produces a good quality light, it’s suitable for an FOWLR tank.