Best Aquarium Lights for Planted Tank of 2026

Janie Foster Avatar
Janie Foster
Last Updated: Jan 11, 2026

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Aquarium lights for planted tanks are essential for the overall health and growth of aquatic plants. These lights are specifically designed to provide the necessary spectrum and intensity of light that plants need for photosynthesis. They come in various types, including LED, fluorescent, and metal halide lights, each with its own advantages. LED lights are energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan, while fluorescent lights offer a good balance between cost and performance. Metal halide lights, on the other hand, provide high-intensity lighting suitable for larger tanks. Regardless of the type, investing in quality aquarium lights will ensure that your planted tank thrives and creates a stunning visual display.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Hygger Clip On Aquarium LED Light Cover #TOP 1
Hygger Clip On Aquarium LED Light
ftb score rating icon 9.8
hygger 18W 24/7 Lighting Aquarium LED Light Cover #TOP 2
hygger 18W 24/7 Lighting Aquarium LED Light
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Hygger 42W LED Aquarium Light with Sunrise-Daylight-Moonlight Mode Cover #TOP 3
Hygger 42W LED Aquarium Light with Sunrise-Daylight-Moonlight Mode
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Aquarium Lights for Planted Tank

Hygger Clip On Aquarium LED Light

HG990
Black
Hygger Clip On Aquarium LED Light Cover
hygger Clip On 24/7 Lighting Aquarium LED Light,Sunrise-Daylight-Moonlight and DIY Mode, Adjustable Timer/Brightness Fish Tank Light with 7 Colors for Planted Tank (14W for 12~20in Tank)

The Hygger Clip On Aquarium LED Light is a versatile and high-quality lighting option for your fish tank. With a default 24/7 natural mode and a DIY mode, you can easily adjust the lighting to your liking. The clip style bracket makes installation a breeze, and the light can be used on different thicknesses of glass. The light is soft and has a high color rendering index, protecting both your eyes and your fish. With a long service life of at least 50,000 hours, this light is easy to maintain and a great choice for any aquarium enthusiast.

What We Like
24/7 auto lighting cycle
Easy installation and setup
Customizable brightness and color modes
Promotes healthy plant growth
Premium build quality
#TOP 2

hygger 18W 24/7 Lighting Aquarium LED Light

HU-XI-201
Black
hygger 18W 24/7 Lighting Aquarium LED Light Cover
hygger 18W 24/7 Lighting Aquarium LED Light, Sunrise-Daylight-Moonlight Mode and DIY Mode, Adjustable Timer Adjustable Brightness Fish Tank Light with Extendable Bracket 7 Colors for Planted Tank

hygger Aquarium LED Light offers a 24/7 Natural Mode with sunrise, daylight, and moonlight settings for your fish tank. In the DIY Mode, you can customize the time, color, and brightness to suit your preferences. The light features a separable adapter for easy replacement, an extendable bracket for flexible installation, and high-quality lamp beads with a long lifespan. With soft lighting and a high color rendering index, it protects your eyes and fish from discomfort. The power-off memory function retains your settings even after a restart.

What We Like
Excellent illumination quality
Customizable timer settings
Multiple lighting modes
Great value for price
Improves plant and fish health
#TOP 3

Hygger 42W LED Aquarium Light with Sunrise-Daylight-Moonlight Mode

Black
Hygger 42W LED Aquarium Light with Sunrise-Daylight-Moonlight Mode Cover
hygger 42W 24/7 Lighting Aquarium LED Light, Sunrise-Daylight-Moonlight Mode and DIY Mode, Timer Adjustable Brightness Fish Tank Light with Extendable Bracket 7 Colors for Planted Tank

The Hygger 42W LED Aquarium Light offers a default 24/7 natural mode with gradient orange, white, and blue lights, and an additional DIY mode with adjustable time, color, and brightness settings. The light is made of high-quality 2835 + 5050 model lamp beads with a color rendering index of up to 85%, protecting both eyes and fish from discomfort. The light is easy to clean and wipe and comes with a separable adapter, extendable bending bracket, and power-off memory function for easy installation and use.

What We Like
Outstanding illumination quality
Customizable lighting options
Convenient timer and 24/7 mode
Excellent customer service
Supports plant growth
#TOP 4

Aqueon Clip-On LED Aquarium Fish Tank Light for Planted Growing Plants

100533613
Blue
One Size
Aqueon Clip-On LED Aquarium Fish Tank Light for Planted Growing Plants Cover
Aqueon Clip-On LED Aquarium Fish Tank Light for Planted Growing Plants for Up To 20 Gallon Aquariums

The Aqueon LED Aquarium Light is an ideal lighting solution for growing lush plants in your aquarium. With 60 bright LEDs, this clip-on light helps support and promote plant growth. The 3-way soft-touch LED control allows you to easily switch between all lights on, only blue lights on, or all lights off, giving you flexibility in creating the perfect lighting conditions for your plants. Designed for planted aquariums up to 20 gallons, this light easily mounts on both framed and frameless aquariums using the versatile mounting screw. Enhance the beauty of your aquarium and provide the necessary light for your plants with the Aqueon LED Aquarium Light.

What We Like
60 bright LEDs
3-way soft-touch LED control
Ideal for planted aquariums up to 20 gallons
#TOP 5

NICREW C10 LED Aquarium Light

N81211
Black
12 - 18 in
NICREW C10 LED Aquarium Light Cover
NICREW C10 Plants LED Aquarium Light, 12-18 in, 9 Watts, Full Spectrum Fish Tank Light with Timer, Day and Night Cycle, Brightness Adjustable

The NICREW C10 Aquarium Light is designed to enhance your aquatic plants' growth with its excellent light spectrum. By combining different LED colors, it maximizes photosynthesis, ensuring your plants thrive. You can easily adjust the brightness from 0% to 100%, allowing you to create the perfect lighting for your tank. The day and night cycle feature simulates natural conditions, helping to keep your fish calm and healthy. Additionally, the gradual ramp-up and dim-down mimic sunrise and sunset, providing a stress-free environment for your aquatic life.

What We Like
Customizable light spectrum
Adjustable brightness levels
Natural day/night simulation
Fish-friendly sunrise/sunset feature
#TOP 6

Hygger 14W Aquarium LED Light

Black
Hygger 14W Aquarium LED Light Cover
hygger Fish Aquarium LED Light, 14W 24/7 Lighting Sunrise-Daylight-Moonlight Mode DIY , Adjustable Timer/Brightness with Extendable Bracket 7 Colors for Planted Tank

The Hygger 14W Aquarium LED Light is a high-quality lighting solution for freshwater tanks. It features a default 24/7 natural mode with gradient orange, white, and blue light, as well as a DIY mode that allows for customizable time, color, and brightness settings. The light is soft and has a color rendering index of up to 85%, protecting both fish and viewers from discomfort caused by stroboscopic effects. The light is also waterproof and easy to clean, with a long service life of at least 50,000 hours. The extendable bending bracket can be adjusted in length and is easy to install, making it suitable for various tank sizes.

What We Like
Adjustable timer
Adjustable brightness
Multiple lighting modes
Easy to set up
Enhances tank appearance

Hygger LED Aquarium Light with Customizable 24/7 Cycle

30"- 36"
Hygger LED Aquarium Light with Customizable 24/7 Cycle Cover
hygger Advanced LED Aquarium Light with Timer, 24/7 Lighting Cycle & DIY Mode, Full Spectrum Fish Tank Light for 30-36 in Freshwater Planted Tank

The Hygger LED Aquarium Light is a great addition to any aquarium. With a customizable 24/7 light cycle, you can replicate natural living conditions for your fish. The custom mode features 7 lighting colors and 5 levels of intensity to create a spectacular atmosphere that really showcases your fish and plants. The light is also great for planted tanks, with super-bright 6500K white LEDs paired with full-spectrum RGB LEDs. The build-in timer control is easy to program and allows you to dim or intensify the output or change light color.

What We Like
Customizable 24/7 light cycle replicates natural living conditions for your fish
7 lighting colors and 5 levels of intensity create a spectacular atmosphere for your fish and plants
Super-bright 6500K white LEDs paired with full-spectrum RGB LEDs are great for planted tanks
#TOP 8

Hygger 957 Planted Aquarium Light

Black
48"-55"
Hygger 957 Planted Aquarium Light Cover
hygger Auto On Off 48-55 Inch LED Aquarium Light Extendable Dimable 7 Colors Full Spectrum Light Fixture for Freshwater Planted Tank Build in Timer Sunrise Sunset

The Hygger 957 Planted Aquarium Light is a game-changer for your fish and aquatic plants. This LED light features a programmable, gradual 24-hour light cycle settings with sunrise, midday, sunset, and night modes to create optimal conditions for your aquarium. The build-in timer enables customization of the intensity and color of light, daytime to nighttime schedules, memory function, and much more. The sunrise and sunset functions prevent light shock to fish, and the IP68 water-resistant rating protects the device from humidity and water intrusion. This aquarium LED fixture contains 140 white, 23 blue, 12 red, 11 green, and 62 RGB LEDs, making it perfect for freshwater planted tanks between 48 and 55 inches wide.

What We Like
Customizable light settings
Built-in timer and dimmer
Bright illumination
Good customer support
Retains settings after power loss
#TOP 9

Rossesay 2 Pack Clip-on LED Aquarium Light

XUU-Rossesay-0897
Black
Rossesay 2 Pack Clip-on LED Aquarium Light Cover
Rossesay 2 Pack Fish Tank Light Clip on LED Aquarium Light 12w 42 LEDs Assemble Aquarium Lamp with White Blue Red Green, 7-14 Inch for 7-22 Inch Planted Tank

The Rossesay LED Aquarium Light is a versatile lighting solution designed to brighten your aquatic environment with ease. Its clip-on design fits securely on tanks between 7 to 22 inches, allowing you to adjust the light angle with a convenient 360-degree rotation, so you can highlight every corner of your tank. Each light features 42 LEDs in white, red, green, and blue, creating a colorful and dynamic setting perfect for both fish and plants. Plus, with two lights included, you can double the brightness or combine them into a longer 14-inch lamp, giving you flexibility to suit your tank’s size and lighting needs.

What We Like
Secure clip-on installation
360-degree adjustable rotation
Multicolor LED beads
Dual pack for extra brightness
Expandable length option
#TOP 10

SEAOURA 24/7 Mode Full Spectrum Aquarium Light

SR-618
Multicolor
for 12-18 inch tank
SEAOURA 24/7 Mode Full Spectrum Aquarium Light Cover
SEAOURA 24/7 Mode Led Aquarium Light for Plants Growth-Full Spectrum Fish Tank Light with Timer, Auto On/Off, 7 Colors, Adjustable Brightness, 14W for 12 to 18 Inch Freshwater Tank

The SEAOURA Aquarium LED Light offers a natural lighting experience by mimicking the sun’s daily cycle, starting with warm orange hues in the morning and shifting to bright full-spectrum light at noon, then fading to evening moonlight. This helps create a comfortable and natural environment for your aquatic plants and fish. You can easily customize the light’s color, brightness, and timing with its handy controller, making it simple to find the perfect setting without daily adjustments. The light also lets you preview colors and brightness before setting the 24/7 cycle, ensuring your tank looks just right. Additionally, it has a power-off memory feature that automatically resumes your settings after outages, giving you peace of mind.

What We Like
Natural sun cycle simulation
Customizable color and brightness
Color and brightness preview
Power-off memory function
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which light is best for planted aquarium?

Daylight is 6500K, which is what many prefer for the planted aquarium. Plants are not overly fussed about the colour of your light in order to grow. It is more important to choose a colour that shows off the natural colour of your plants best, and often comes down to personal taste.

2. Do LED lights work for planted aquariums?

Yes, aquarium plants will definitely grow under LED as long as the light emits in the right spectrum. Regular white LEDs are great and will allow your plants to thrive.

3. How do you light a planted aquarium?

Hygger AquariumFluval Aquasky 2.0 LEDFinnex Planted+ 24/7 Aquarium LED LightFluval Nano Plant LEDKessil LED A160WE TunaFinnex FugeRay Aquarium LED Light Plus MoonlightsFinnex Fugeray Planted+ Aquarium Led Light Plus MoonlightsPopBloom S40 Reef Led Marine Aquarium Light Led Reef Lighting for Coral Shannon40A360X Kessil TunaTwinstar Light B-LineHIPARGERO Aquarium Lights – Aquarium LED Light 30Watts Saltwater Lighting with Touch ControlCurrent USA Satellite Plus PRO LED LightAqueon Modular LED Aquarium Light FixtureFinnex Planted+ 24/7 HLC Aquarium LED LightGloFish Blue LED Aquarium LightCurrent USA Satellite Freshwater LED PlusLominie Led Aquarium Light Asta Tank LampLifegard Aquatics Ultra Slim Freshwater LED LightFinnex Planted+ 24/7 ALC Aquarium LED Light, Automatic Sunrise and Sunset

Editor's Notes

During our aquarium light for planted tank research, we found 24 aquarium light for planted tank products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 113,468 customer reviews through our big data system to write the aquarium lights for planted tank list. We found that most customers choose aquarium lights for planted tank with an average price of $29.48.

The aquarium lights for planted tank are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of aquarium lights for planted tank, including hygger, Aqueon, NICREW, Rossesay, SEAOURA. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 357 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Janie Foster Avatar

Janie Foster is a writer & pet blogger from Los Angeles, she enjoys living with her two cats and three dogs. She owned her first dog 10 years ago and then started her personal blog to record her dog's daily life. Throughout her personal life, she has developed specialized knowledge in pet care, pet nutrition, feeding habits, and more.