Lighting is another critical part of any marine aquarium, especially if you plan to keep certain invertebrates and corals.  The typical hood that comes with a "packaged deal" aquarium usually isn't enough.  Remember, most, if not all of the critters in your tank were caught in the oceans and seas of the world, and are used to having their environment a certain way.  It is your duty as a hobbyist to try to duplicate the ocean environments as close as possible to ensure a successful aquarium!

Of course, I started with the "package deal" lighting hood.  It had a single while bulb, and it "looked" like it was OK.  After I began to keep anemones and a couple of corals, I realized that a new lighting system would be needed.

I purchased a new 36" dual bulb hood from my LFS, as well as a 36" full spectrum 6000 K NO (Normal Output) bulb, and a 36" blue actinic 7200 K NO bulb.  What a difference!  Talk about being BRIGHT!  My anemones opened up more often, and my button polyps opened wider than I have ever seen before!