Best 36-inch LED lights for 30-50 gallon aquariums

Updated: August 5, 2025 - By: - Categories: Light

Aquariums in the 30 to 50-gallon range strike the perfect balance between size and versatility—but only if they’re properly lit. Most tanks in this category are 36 inches long, which means choosing the right LED light is key to achieving full coverage, vibrant colors, and healthy plant growth. A high-quality 36-inch LED light can completely transform your setup—whether you keep live plants, colorful fish, or both. In this guide, we’ll explore the best 36-inch LED lights designed to meet the demands of medium to large aquariums, combining power, efficiency, and smart features to elevate your tank.

Best LED lights for 30/40/50 gallon fish tanks

Model Our rating PAR Ideal for Fixture sizes For tanks LEDs Modes Wattage
NICREW ClassicLED G2 editor's ratingNICREW ClassicLED G2 #ad 78 @ 12-inches freshwater fish, most types of plants 30-36 inches (12-60″ available) 29-50 Gal 120 White + 24 Blue 8/10/12H timer 25 watts
Hygger Full Spectrum aquarium light editor's ratingHygger Full Spectrum aquarium light #ad – fish-only, most plant types 36-42 inches 50 gallons 76 White + 31 Blue + 11 Red + 8 Green + 32 RGB multi colors, 6/10/12H timer, 24/7 timer 36 watts
Nicrew ClassicLED Plus editor's ratingNicrew ClassicLED Plus #ad 72 @ 12-inch depth fish, low to average light plants 36-48 inches 30/40-gallon breeder tanks, 50-gallon White + Blue + Red + Green Day/night, adjustable 27 watts
Finnex Planted+ 24/7 ALC editor's ratingFinnex Planted+ 24/7 ALC #ad 124 @ 12-inch depth medium-high light level plants 36 inches (available 12-48″) 30/40/50 gallons daylight, 660nm red, green, blue 24/7 timer controller, multi modes watts
Seaoura full-spectrum aquarium light editor's ratingSeaoura full-spectrum aquarium light #ad most plant types 34.45 inches (available 12-54″) 30-50 gallons 180pcs (White: 135pcs, Blue: 18pcs, Red: 9pcs, Green: 9pcs, Pink: 9pcs) Blue/white, dimmable, 6/10/12 hour timer 26 watts
AQQA LED Aquarium Light 24/7 editor's ratingAQQA LED Aquarium Light 24/7 #ad _ fish, most plant types 29.9 inches 32-40 inches (80~100 cm) 96 pcs 7 colors, 6H/10H/12H timer, 24/7 automatic cycle 30 watts
Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Light editor's ratingCurrent USA Satellite Freshwater LED Light #ad 15+ @ 12-inch depth fish only 36-48 inches 30/40-gallon breeder tanks, 50-gallon 99 White/36 Blue Day/night, adjustable 15 watts
Current USA Satellite Plus PRO editor's ratingCurrent USA Satellite Plus PRO #ad 155 @ 12-inch depth medium-high light plants 36-48 inches (available 18-60″) 30-50 gallons 30 White, 8 red, 14 RGB 24-hour timer control, multi preset modes 50 watts
Finnex FugeRay Planted+ editor's ratingFinnex FugeRay Planted+ #ad 121 @ 14-inch depth (48-inch fixture) most high-demanding planted tanks 36 inches (available 12-48″) up to 50 gal (132) 7000K + (72) 660nm red + (12) blue Day/moonlight 40 watts

36-Inch aquarium LED lights reviewed

Nicrew ClassicLED Gen 2 with an inline timer

NICREW ClassicLED G2editor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

For aquarists that want to start with a freshwater fish only or planted tank, the Nicrew Classic LED G2 is a great start. This second-generation aquarium light from Nicrew now features more LEDs and more brightness. The added inline LED timer controller adds a hoard of features.

Wired timer controllerWired timer controller #ad

The W (White) and B (Blue) buttons allow adjusting the lighting intensities of white and blue channels separately, from 5-100%. The clock button is for setting the lighting time to 8/10/12 hours as desired, and you don’t need to buy a separate timer. The M (Mode) button allows switching between three modes (all LEDs on, only white, and only blue), or turning the light off.

The lighting features and intensity produced by this light are perfect in bringing out your fish’s vibrant colors and can also grow a vast range of aquarium plants. The most commendable aspect of the light fixture is how affordable yet durable it is. Its LEDs are rated at 50,000 hours, so you get value for your money.

The light comes with extendable mounting brackets that can work for rimmed and rimless tanks. While the build of the light is very sturdy, it features an aluminum casing for rapid heat dissipation. It’s recommended to use the light on tanks that have a transparent canopy for expanding its lifetime.

Hygger 24/7 LED aquarium light with inline timer

Hygger Full Spectrum aquarium lighteditor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

This is a multi-function LED light you can choose for your aquarium. It comes with an inline controller that includes significant features that you can’t find in other aquarium light products.

Inline controllerInline controller #ad

From top to bottom, the timer key to set the lighting time, the On-Off/M key for selecting your unique color or turning the light off, the Up/Down key to adjust the brightness, and the 24/7 key to run a preset lighting cycle from the manufacturer.

The timer key allows you to set the lighting time to 6/10/12 hours a day. Use it if you only need to simply turn on/off the light on time daily. If you want to stimulate the natural light in your aquarium, the 24/7 feature is wonderful to use.

24/7 lighting cycle24/7 lighting cycle #ad

In the 24/7 lighting schedule, the light starts with a gradient orange from 6 am to 8 am (sunrise). As the day moves on, from 8 am to 6 pm, the light turns white. Similarly, as the clock moves from 6 to 10:50 pm, the lights turn blue, and they are off during any other hours of the day. These, however, are the default settings, and you can change them as per your preference.

You can choose one of 7 colors (White, Red, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange, Cyan) with the M button. You can also run all the colors with the multi-color cycle, in which the light automatically changes colors over time.

An interesting part about this aquarium LED light is that the light is irradiated, meaning that it is soft on your eyes and the fish. To be precise, the rendering index is around 85%. Hence, when taking photos with a camera or a mobile phone, it does not cause flashing on the screen. Instead, the light is stable.

The 14W LED fixture is appropriate for a tank around 36-42 inches long. With its waterproof, glued, and sealed casing, this LED aquarium light is durable, high-quality, and very easy to clean. In addition, the LED case is made of aluminum, meaning it is lightweight, very strong, and long-lasting.

NiCREW ClassicLED Plus full-spectrum, 36-inch

Nicrew ClassicLED Pluseditor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

The Nicrew ClassicLED Plus light is a no-brainer, particularly among aquarists keeping a planted aquarium with low to average light level plants.

Packed with numerous features, the light ranks highly for its effectiveness and efficiency. It has a stylish, ultra-thin design with an aluminum shell for durability and fast heat dissipation.

It’s a full-spectrum light with white, blue, red, and green light and is brighter than other lights in its category. What’s more, the color spectrum of the light is fine-tuned to guarantee maximum benefits and vibrant growth for aquarium plants.

Two lighting modesTwo lighting modes #ad

You can choose between two lighting modes that come with this light using the inline barrel connector. The daylight mode features a combination of all the lights at full strength while the night mode features only the blue lights.

The installation of the light is as easy as its operation. It has adjustable docking mounts that work for rimless and framed tanks. The manufacturer recommends using the light fixture with a glass or acrylic canopy to get a longer service time.

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 ALC 36-inch Aquarium LED Light

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 ALC editor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

I will definitely recommend this aquarium light to every planted aquarium owners. Aquarium plants are healthier when they get a lighting schedule mimicking that of their natural habitats. With the Finnex Planted+ 24/7 ALC aquarium LED light, your plants get a nature-like kind of light.

24/7 feature24/7 feature #ad

The most remarkable feature of this product is its ability to automatically increase or decrease the light intensity as the day goes by with its 24/7 automatic lighting cycle. With the 24/7 feature, you get a deemed sunrise, full-lit noon, deemed sunset, starry night, and dark midnight.

Remote controlRemote control #ad

The remote features 8 different times of a day so that you can click on the nearest time when programming the light. You can also adjust colors and intensities at different times within the 24/7 program.

Besides the 24/7 lighting cycle, you may like other features and wonderful preset lighting effects of the product. With the remote, you can adjust each of the color channels independently and build your own favorite colors, and save your settings with four memory slots (M1-M4) on the remote.

The product is lightweight and ultra-slim. It comes with extendable clear-plastic legs to fit a broad range of aquarium widths around 36 inches. It can also be used on aquariums with or without rims.

SEAOURA LED Aquarium Light with timer

Seaoura full-spectrum aquarium lighteditor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

Stylish and practical, the SEAOURA LED Aquarium Light with Timer offers a great blend of functionality, visual appeal, and customization options. It’s well-suited for nano tanks, betta setups, or planted tanks that require moderate light levels to thrive.

Timer controllerTimer controller #ad

Its integrated timer, powered by a high-precision quartz chip, supports 6-, 10-, or 12-hour light cycles. This feature makes it easy to maintain a natural photoperiod without the need for additional controllers, simplifying your daily aquarium care routine.

The light allows for granular brightness adjustment through a simple controller: white and RGB channels can be tuned separately from the blue spectrum, or adjusted together using a unified brightness button. With smooth ramp-up and ramp-down transitions, it not only benefits plant growth but also reduces stress on fish during light changes.

AQQA LED Aquarium Light 24/7

AQQA LED Aquarium Light 24/7editor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

24/7 Default mode24/7 Default mode #ad

Bringing nature into your tank has never been easier thanks to the AQQA 24/7 Clip-On LED Light and its integrated controller. The 24/7 mode recreates a full lighting cycle that starts at dawn and ends under moonlight, offering your fish and plants a natural rhythm that supports their biological health. With just one press on the controller, you can activate this automated cycle and leave it running day after day.

DIY modeDIY mode #ad

For those who prefer a hands-on approach, the controller also includes a DIY mode with flexible customization options. You can fine-tune brightness levels, switch between color temperatures, and select the ideal active hours to suit your tank’s inhabitants. It’s a compact, cord-mounted controller that doesn’t require any extra gear—perfect for aquarists who value simplicity but still want control.

Built with both ease-of-use and reliability in mind, this light includes a 360° adjustable gooseneck and durable clip to accommodate many tank types. Its smart memory feature ensures all your chosen settings remain intact after reboots or outages, so your aquatic world stays on schedule, always.

Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Light

Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Lighteditor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

For aquarists with a fish-only tank, it’s still possible to get the most vivid colors out of the tank. The Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED light is designed for fish-only tanks with plenty of features that will bring those vibrant colors to life while adding a shimmer.

The light is packed with 6500K white LEDs and 445nm blue LEDs, corresponding to two independent color channels. You can adjust each of the channels independently, giving you the power to pick a setting that brings out the most color for your tank.

Wired remote controlWired remote control #ad

Using the simple wired remote, you can choose from various modes available for this light. These include three fading cloudy, two lunar, two storm modes, and a dusk mode. The fading effects are spot-on and very realistic, allowing your fish to live out a wild experience right inside your tank.

You can also choose to dim one or both channels using the remote depending on your preference.

Once the light arrives, it shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to have it up and running. The sliding docking legs expand from 36 to 48 inches in length, making the light an excellent choice for various tanks and various installation options.

The Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED light is best suited for tanks with tetras, cichlids, and livebearers.

Current USA Satellite Plus Pro 36-48 inch

Current USA Satellite Plus PROeditor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

For tech-eye aquarists that love control, the Current USA Satellite Plus Pro is a match made in heaven. This one of a kind LED light supports vibrant plant growth, vibrant colors and brings a brilliant shimmer to your tank.

Its performance is powered by various LEDs that include 30 pieces of 6500K white, 8 red, and 14 RGB LEDs. With the PAR output of 155 at 12 inches, the highest in this article, the light is ideal for even the most demanding planted tanks.

Remote controlRemote control #ad

TimerTimer #ad

The light comes with a handy IR wireless remote and a touchpad timer that gives you full control of it. It features a 24-hour automatic lighting cycle with hand-free control. Moreover, the cycle is included with 15-minute ramp up and down periods in order not to shock your fish because of sudden lighting changes.

By using the remote, you can choose from any of the lighting modes: daylight, moonlight, cloud cover, fading lunar, and storm and lighting. You can customize the light color by adjusting different color channels. This helps the light to adapt to the needs of your tank.

Extendable brackets make the light easy to install and can easily work with various tanks in varying situations.

Finnex Fugeray Planted+ daylight and moonlight 36-inch

Finnex FugeRay Planted+editor's ratingCheck on Amazon #ad

The Finnex Fugeray Planted+ comes with features best working for planted aquariums. The light combines the power and efficiency of 216 LEDs in different colors to meet all the plant and lighting requirements of your 50-gallon tank.

There are 132 x 7000K LEDs, 72 x 660 nm true red LEDs, and 12 blue moonlight LEDs. While the light has done an excellent job of replicating full-spectrum lighting, it’s a little short-handed on the modes. It only offers two modes; day and night. But for most tanks, these should be sufficient.

The Finnex Fudgeray Planted+ is a balance of aesthetic appeal and value for money. The light is well designed and quite appealing. Unlike its competitors that have metallic docking legs, this one spots classy, clear, and extendable plastic legs.

The LEDs are rated at 40,000 hours, which is impressive given its price tag. For aquarists that are not taking any chances with their live plants, this light will come in handy.

With years of hands-on experience and a deep love for aquatic life, we’re passionate fish keepers dedicated to helping others thrive in the hobby. Our mission is to make fishkeeping accessible, enjoyable, and successful for everyone—from curious beginners to seasoned aquarists. By sharing practical tips, honest advice, and hard-earned lessons, we hope to inspire more people to discover the joy of building and caring for a thriving underwater world.

You may like

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *