10 Best 72-inch Aquarium Lights [2025]
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Finding the best 72-inch aquarium lights for your setup can be a daunting task, given the multitude of options available on the market. With various features, specifications, and price points to consider, it can be overwhelming to narrow down the choices on your own. To simplify this process, we have carefully shortlisted 10 top products that cater to different needs and preferences. Our curated list not only saves you time but also alleviates the hassle of searching, ensuring you make an informed choice for your aquatic environment.
Top 10 72-inch Aquarium Lights In The Market
72-inch Aquarium Lights Review
- Full spectrum LEDs aquarium light, bring more natural light to your animal and plant
- 3 OPTIONAL CONTROL MODES: All LEDs On / Only Blue LEDs On / Close
- Super bright 5730SMD. High-quality LEDs for low energy dissipation. Aluminum case for faster cooling to keep long service life
- SUITABLE TANK LENGTH: 150cm/ 60 inch- 180cm/ 72 inch. With extendable bracket to fits your tank. Color temperature(K) : 8000. Lumen :2040. Power: 40W.
- This light is not waterproof, please don't put it into the water
- MANUAL SWITCHING MODE FOR DAYLIGHT AND NIGHT LIGHT: 5730 SMD White and Blue LEDs provide amazing shimmer. High-quality LEDs for low energy dissipation. Lumen :4732. Power 31W
- Aluminum case for faster cooling to keep long service life
- UPGRADED FOLDABLE ADJUSTABLE DESIGN: reduce the parcel length and the possibility of damage in transit. When installing, the connecting joints on two parts of the lamp body must be fully tightened to be worked perfectly
- SUITABLE TANK LENGTH: 150cm/ 60 inch- 180cm/ 72 inch. If the tank length is 72 inches, it is recommended to choose the 72 inch light body, otherwise the bracket will not be able to bear the weight of the light body stably if the bracket extends too much
- SUITABLE FOR: freshwater and marine tank. But this light is not waterproof, please don't put it into the water.
- Powerful LEDs - equipped with an upgraded 5730 chip that is brighter while still energy efficient. 66W @ 8000 lumen. Super bright 10000K LEDs with 460nm Blue, 660 nm red, and green brilliantly shimmers through your aquarium.
- Timer and Modes - Three timer modes for auto shut off. 4 / 8 / 12 hour. Press the timer button on the controller until the desired count down timer to shut off. Simple to operate rather than taking hours to program a ramp module. 3 Modes - the controller allows users to select the three available modes. Mode 1 is full power / all on. Mode 2 is white, red, and green. Mode 3 is blue only for night viewing.
- Dimmable LEDs - Different environments require different moods. Users have five dimming levels to adjust for the intensity and output from the LEDs. Press the plus minus button to adjust for desired brightness.
- Future Upgrade Ready - all fixtures are contructed of aluminum housing that is pre-wired for all future upgrades. Beamswork offer other controller modules for specific functions from timer, dimmer, and ramp. Brackets are clear plastic that will not rust over time or get stuck from calcium deposits. 60 and 72 inch light kits will include two connecting fixtures and two brackets. KEEP LIGHT AWAY FROM SPLASHING WATER.
- DA 180 FSPEC - 200x 5730 LEDS (132x 10000K, 32x 460nm Blue, 18x 660nm Red, 18x Green). Body dimensions: 72.00 x 5.25 x 1.25 inches. Brackets add 1.00 inch in height. 72 inch fixtures are a combination of two 36 inch fixtures.
- The Lifegard Aquatics 72" Full Spectrum Aquarium LED Light provides excellent general purpose lighting for freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
- The 9000K LEDs deliver full spectrum light intensity ideal for aquatic plants and saltwater aquariums. Features two-mode ON/OFF switch (full spectrum, lunar blue and off positions), so you can manually transition from full spectrum to lunar lighting. The entire length of LED board is protected by a clear poly-carbonate sheet that protects LEDs from moisture damage.
- 72" X 3.38" X 0.65". Metal legs extend to 76".
- 45 watts. LED colors: 72 x White; 12 x Red; 16 x Blue; 12x Green; 16 x Pink. Color Temperature: 9000K. LUX: 2810. Lumens: 2249.
- Lifegard Part No. R800055
- MORE LIGHT | BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE - The Orbit Marine IC PRO produces a vibrant, full color spectrum using dual LED fixtures, delivering up to twice the amount of light. Now with wireless smartphone LOOP control, it’s easier than ever to program and control your aquarium LED lights, create waves and control the flow – all with a simple touch.
- OPTIMIZED COLORS | PERFECTLY CONTROLLED - A powerful blend of Dual Actinic blue, Dual Daylight white and RGB LEDs combined with 90° spherical optical lenses delivers the perfect spectrum of light for strong coral growth and amazing fluorescence.
- EYE POPPING CORAL COLORS- See your corals in high definition color and immerse yourself with spectacular on-demand dynamic lighting modes and industry first binaural audio. Optional fish tank mount arm brackets makes for an even sleeker install.
- ULTRA SLIM DESIGN - Measuring less than ½” thick, the Orbit Marine IC PRO is still the thinnest, sleekest light fixture on the market. The thermally efficient LED design requires no cooling fan and runs completely silent. Optional reef tank mount brackets make for a polished install and provides both vertical and front-to-back adjustment.
- SMART APP CONTROL WITH BLUETOOTH - The Orbit Marine IC PRO with Bluetooth control includes a LOOP controller for both LED lights. Use the LOOP app on iOS or Android mobile devices and connect. It’s simple, intuitive and requires no wifi network.
- Convenient APP control: The Smart LED Aquarium Light features Bluetooth and push-button controls. Download name: EasyCon, the rainbow light effect of the light beads can create a sparkling water effect
- Experience upgrade: Full-spectrum aquarium lamp has adjustable aperture, 11 lighting modes, DIY various colors, 10 levels of brightness, and timing memory function. No daily adjustments are required and the operation is simple
- Small but powerful: The clip on fish tank light is bright, accurately restores colors, and has dual heat dissipation functions. Its aluminum base plate and annular fin design ensures rapid cooling for extended lamp life and long-lasting performance
- Retractable Metal Stand: Adjustable height and retractable length, the aquarium light can be rotated 180° to choose your preferred illumination range and position, you can easily install this LED aquarium light on rimless glass or acrylic aquariums, the screws won't scratch the aquarium glass
- Quality & Service: Full Spectrum RGB beads deliver high brightness with minimal power consumption, provide the right light color for any scene, create stunning underwater landscapes, and give you the possibility to customize to meet the specific needs of fish and plant lighting. tips: Only for aquarium walls 0.8 inches or less
- ★[DIY MODE]: Time, Colour and Brightness 3 setting choose. Timing (Timer control key): 3 choices timer running for 6 hours, or 10 hours, or 12 hours; Brightness/On-Off key: 10 level brightness and Switch function. Colour(W/B key): 3 colour modes choose, All lights on, White/Red/Green/Pink, Only Blue
- ★[Full Spectrum Aquarium Light]: With full spectrum lighting, which is helpful fish and aquatic plants growth, suitable for all fresh water tanks. The controller is very simple and no complicated operations. Suitable for all starters to experienced fish tank lovers to use
- ★[High-quality Led& High CRI]: Using high-quality SMD2835 led chips. 6500k white light, red light, pink light, green light and blue light, the light is very soft and beautiful, and the colour rendering index is up to 89%, which is similar to natural light
- ★[5 columns of Led Chips, Extendable Metal Bracket]: Compared with other tank lights, up to 5 columns of led chips, they are more compact and beautiful. Good heat dissipation of the ABS shell. Use the stable and durable metal bracket, adjustable extendable bracket fit for most gallon tanks
- ★[Application Size & Memory function]: The aquarium light fit for 48 inch-54 inch tank. In case of power failure, the setting remains the same as before, and the start time will restart counting after the power is turned on. PS: The light rises slowly in 15 minutes and gradually decreases in the last 15 minutes. It is very friendly to fish. You can easily to install this led fish tank light on most of glass or acrylic aquarium tanks, with transparent hood/lid or no, with rims or rimless
- 🐟 3 Modes with Custom Timer: DIY hour & minute of DAY mode, NIGHT mode, 24/7 mode. Seaoura aquarium light provide LED time clock display system allowing you to program a flexible automatic start & end lighting schedule of sunrise, daylight, sunset, moonlight and off. Simulate natural daily light for your tank based on the local time you set.
- 🐟 Time Memory Function: A replaceable battery is featured in the fish light controller to keep the passage of time even if the power is cut off unexpectedly. The aquarium planted light will follow the schedule timely when power restored after a tank cleansing or a blackout. No need to set and calibrate the timer repeatedly.
- 🐟 High Quality LEDs: 7 rows of 5050 + 2835 LED chips, Seaoura fish tank light provide full spectrum, red, green, blue, pink, purple, cyan, orange and color cycle, total 9 color optionswith 20 levels of dimmable brightness. Up to 90% light through PC surface ensuring the aquarium is evenly illuminated. CRI:92, PAR:181, Lux:10685, Lumen:2899, Color Temp: White 12600K, Power:48W, LED QTY:294Pcs(W:196Pcs/R:14Pcs/G:14Pcs/B:28Pcs/RGB:42Pcs)
- 🐟 Ideal for Aquarium Plants Growth: Seaoura LED Aquarium Light bathing your freshwater aquarium. High PAR value and reasonable blue and red light wavelength make the aquarium light better for aquatic plants to photosynthesize. Custom timer programmable control the light up the aquarium adapt to local time. A 15-min brightness gradient is set between light stages to avoid startle the fish.
- 🐟 Taller Extendable Bracket: Seaoura aquarium lights came with adjustable mount, application size: 48'' to 54'', fit the light on 50 gallon to 120 gallon fish tanks. The taller stand design ensures the light covers every corner of the aquarium while extending its service life. Cable Length: 8.2ft.
- ★Experience natural lighting for your aquarium with this aquarium plant light that simulates the sun's cycle, starting with warm orange light in the morning and transitioning to bright full spectrum light at noon, then fading to orange light in the afternoon and finally to blue moonlight in the evening. With 16 time points to choose from, it's easy to find the perfect setting for your tank
- ★SEAOURA Aquarium light with controller to setting Color, Brightness, Time and On/Off. With 8 color modes: Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Orange, Sea blue, Yellow, cycle, and full spectrum; 10 level Brightness (10%-20%-30%-40%-50%-60%-70%-80%-90%-100%) and 5 timer options (4 Hours, 6 hours, 8 Hours 10 hours, or 12 hours). No need to operation every day, very convenient. Warm tips: Cycle Color (No Brightness Option)
- ★Upgrade your aquarium lighting with this advanced design that lets you PREVIEW the color and intensity of the light before setting it in the 24/7 cycle mode. With 5 columns of compact 5050 & 2835 led chips, this light provides 6500K white leds and full spectrum rgb leds comfortable and beautiful lighting that's similar to natural light. No strobe, it's gentle on the eyes and won't harm your fish
- ★Never worry about power outages again with this planted tank light's power off memory function. In case of power failure, the 24/7 mode will start at 6 am and the timer mode will recalculate the setting time. Plus, with an IP68 waterproof rating and an ulra-thin aluminum alloy shell, this light is easy to clean and can withstand accidental falls into the water
- ★Durable Aquarium Light: The fish aquarium light come with an extendable bendable metal bracket and an ultra-thin brushed aluminum alloy shell. this light is perfect for tanks between 48-54 inches and can support low-to-mid light level plant growth. It's also easy to install on most glass or acrylic aquarium tanks, with transparent hood/lid or no, with rims or rimless
- 🐠DEFAULT MODE(24/7 Natural Mode): Gradient Orange light (sunrise) from 6 am to 8 am; Gradient White light from 8 am to 6 pm; Gradient Blue light (moonlight) from 6 pm to 10:50 pm; The lights are off in other time periods. PS: The 6-time points on the controller are used as a reference for the first running time setting. In other words, the overall default time period can be delayed or advanced.
- 🐟DIY MODE: Time + Color + Brightness can be set. ①Setting time(TIMER key): There are 3 choices, it can run for 6 hours, or 10 hours, or 12 hours; ②Brightness(🔺/🔻 key): 5 kinds of brightness. ③Color(ON-OFF/ M key): White, Red, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange, Cyan, PS: The light slowly ramps up and down in 15 minutes, then comes the brightness you set. Cycle Color (No Brightness Selection).
- 🐡NEW UPGRADE: The separable adapter, if it is damaged, no need to replace the whole light to avoid waste. The extendable bending bracket can be adjusted in length and easy to install, and can be applied to various freshwater tanks. Thicken aluminum to increase heat dissipation efficiency. Power-off memory function, whether it is 24/7 mode or Time mode, other settings remain unchanged, only the start time changes, the default operation starts at 6 am.
- 🦐HIGH-QUALITY LIGHT: The light is soft, the color rendering index is close to natural light, up to 85%, protecting eyes and fish, to refuse the discomfort caused by stroboscopic for fish and viewers. Using high-quality 2835 + 5050 model lamp beads, long service life, at least 50,000 hours. Lamp beads waterproof, the light is easy to clean and wipe, No need to worry even if it falls into the water briefly.
- 🌿PRODUCT PARAMETERS: ①Power:42W; ②Led QTY:215PCS(White:105PCS/BLUE:43PCS/ RED:15PCS/GREE:9PCS/ RGB:43PCS); ③CRI:85; ④Application(for Fish Tnak Long):48”-54” ; ⑥Power Cord: 5.9ft+2.3ft; ⑦Input Votage:AC100-240V; ⑧Output Votage:DC20V; ⑨Kelvin: White 6500K, Blue 455nm, Red 620nm, Green 560nm; ⑩Lumens:2815;
Our Review Process
To ensure you get reliable product recommendations, we follow a detailed review methodology that includes:
- Market Research: Scanning best-selling and trending products in this category.
- User Feedback: Reviewing customer reviews, star ratings, and complaints.
- Hands-On Testing: Trying select products ourselves when feasible.
- Feature Comparison: Evaluating specs, durability, pricing, and safety.
- Expert Opinions: Consulting with niche experts or credible reviewers.
We independently select the top 10 options based on value, quality, and usability. To learn more, visit our detailed review process.
Key Considerations Before Buying 72-Inch Aquarium Lights
1. Type of Lighting
Understanding the different types of aquarium lights available is essential. Common options include LED, fluorescent, and metal halide lighting. LED lights are popular due to their energy efficiency and longevity, while fluorescent lights provide a good spectrum for plant growth. Metal halide lights are powerful but can generate significant heat, which may require additional cooling solutions.
2. Light Spectrum
The light spectrum is crucial for the health of both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Different aquatic plants and corals thrive under different light spectrums. Look for lights that offer a full spectrum, including blue and red wavelengths, which promote photosynthesis and enhance the color of fish and corals.
3. Intensity and Coverage
The intensity of the light should match the needs of your aquarium’s inhabitants. Consider the depth of your tank and the types of plants or corals you’re keeping. A 72-inch light should provide adequate coverage for larger tanks, but check the lumen output to ensure sufficient intensity across the entire aquarium.
4. Heat Production
Heat output is an important factor when selecting aquarium lights. Excessive heat can raise the water temperature, which may stress fish and plants. LED lights generally produce less heat compared to other types. If you opt for a heat-generating option like metal halides, ensure your aquarium has adequate cooling systems in place.
5. Energy Efficiency
Consider the energy consumption of the lighting system. LED lights are typically the most energy-efficient, resulting in lower electricity bills over time. Evaluate the wattage of the light fixture and its expected lifespan to determine the long-term costs associated with operating the lights.
6. Mounting Options
How the lights will be mounted over the aquarium is another consideration. Some lights come with adjustable mounting brackets, while others may require additional hardware. Ensure that the mounting system suits your aquarium setup and provides the necessary height and angle for optimal light penetration.
7. Budget
Setting a budget is crucial before making a purchase. Prices for 72-inch aquarium lights can vary significantly based on the type, brand, and features. While it might be tempting to go for cheaper options, investing in high-quality lighting can lead to better long-term results for your aquarium.
8. Brand Reputation and Warranty
Research the brands available on the market. Established brands often provide better customer support and warranty options. A good warranty can offer peace of mind, especially when investing in more expensive lighting solutions.
FAQs
What types of 72-inch aquarium lights are available?
There are several types of 72-inch aquarium lights available, including LED lights, fluorescent lights, metal halide lights, and T5HO (high output) lights. Each type offers different benefits in terms of energy efficiency, brightness, and spectrum of light suitable for various aquatic life.
What is the best type of lighting for a 72-inch freshwater aquarium?
For freshwater aquariums, LED lights are often considered the best option due to their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and ability to produce a full spectrum of light that promotes plant growth while enhancing the colors of the fish. T5HO lights are also popular for planted tanks, providing high output and a wide range of color options.
How much power do 72-inch aquarium lights consume?
The power consumption of 72-inch aquarium lights varies based on the type and model. LED lights typically consume between 100 to 300 watts, while fluorescent and metal halide lights may use more, often exceeding 400 watts. It’s essential to check the specifications of the specific light you are considering to determine its power usage.
How do I install 72-inch aquarium lights?
Installing 72-inch aquarium lights generally involves mounting the light fixture above the aquarium using hanging hardware or placing it directly on the tank if designed for that. Ensure that the lights are securely fastened and positioned to provide even coverage across the tank. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation to avoid any issues.
What color temperature should I look for in 72-inch aquarium lights?
The color temperature for aquarium lights is typically measured in Kelvin (K). For freshwater tanks, lights in the range of 5000K to 7000K are ideal for plant growth and providing a natural appearance. Reef aquariums often benefit from a higher color temperature, around 10000K to 14000K, to enhance coral colors and growth.
Do 72-inch aquarium lights need a timer?
Using a timer for your 72-inch aquarium lights is highly recommended. A timer helps maintain a consistent lighting schedule, which is crucial for the health of both plants and fish. Typically, a lighting period of 8 to 12 hours per day is ideal, mimicking natural daylight cycles.
Can I use dimmable 72-inch aquarium lights?
Yes, many modern 72-inch aquarium lights come with dimmable features, allowing you to adjust the brightness according to the needs of your aquatic inhabitants. Dimming can reduce stress on fish and help with algae control in planted tanks. However, ensure that any dimmer used is compatible with your specific lighting type.
How often should I replace my 72-inch aquarium lights?
The lifespan of 72-inch aquarium lights varies by type. LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours, while fluorescent bulbs typically last around 10,000 hours and metal halide bulbs around 12,000 hours. It’s essential to monitor the output and quality of light regularly and replace them as needed to ensure optimal growth for plants and health for fish.
Are 72-inch aquarium lights safe for all types of fish?
In general, 72-inch aquarium lights are safe for most types of fish; however, it is crucial to choose the right type of lighting and intensity based on the species you have. Some fish may prefer dimmer lighting, while others thrive in brighter conditions. Always research the needs of your specific fish and adjust the lighting accordingly.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, selecting the right lighting for your 72-inch aquarium is crucial for the health of your aquatic life and the aesthetic appeal of your setup. We carefully curated this list of the top 10 aquarium lights based on several key factors, including brightness, energy efficiency, ease of installation, and user reviews. Each product was evaluated on its ability to enhance the growth of aquatic plants, support coral reefs, and illuminate your aquarium beautifully while ensuring that it meets the needs of both novice and experienced aquarium enthusiasts.
By following our recommendations, you can confidently choose a lighting solution that complements your aquarium’s environment and promotes a thriving ecosystem. Investing in one of these high-quality aquarium lights will not only improve the visual impact of your tank but also contribute to the overall well-being of its inhabitants. Whether you’re setting up a freshwater or saltwater aquarium, our top picks will guide you in creating a stunning underwater world that you can enjoy for years to come.
