When it comes to light for freshwater planted aquariums or Saltwater Reef, there are several important factors to consider. Let’s explore these parameters to help you choose the best light setup for your tank: Color Spectrum (Kelvin)- While plants/corals/anemone can thrive under a wide range of Kelvin, Many prefer neutral white lights around 5000 to 6500 K because simulate natural daylight for planted aquarium and reef aquarium lights around 10000 to 20000 K, Avoid lights that are too red or blue, as extreme colors may not be visually appealing. Light Intensity- The intensity of plant- growing lights is often measured as PAR , Medium-intensity lights work well for most species except demanding carpeting plants. High-intensity lights for Saltwater corals reef aquarium.