Create and light a saltwater reef aquarium that is healthy and looks great too.

Investigate a variety of plants, fish and coral that can live in saltwater aquaria. Choose a few to live in your tank then decide how to light the tank so all of its inhabitants thrive.

Plant Reflection Spectra

This is a shaving brush plant that can grow in a saltwater aquarium. Its green color comes from chlorophyll, which reflects some photons while absorbing others.

Spectrum Tool. Examine the reflection spectrum of chlorophyll A, one of the pigments that make up the plant.

Spectrum Notebook. Answer the questions in your notebook.

Green plants in an aquarium
Source:
Fish Tank Inhabitants — Chlorophyll A
Brightness
Full-intensity spectrum backgroundTransparency increases or decreases based on chart intensity, hiding or revealing the background
Left axis ticks
Spectrum intensity vs wavelength chart
Bottom axis ticks
Wavelength (Microns)