Marine LED lighting system and method

1. A combination marine habitat and lighting system, comprising:

a marine habitat having an open top defined by a top edge; and

a lighting system comprising:

a housing connectable to the top edge to substantially cover the open top, the housing including an inner side facing the open top when the housing is disposed over the top edge, and an opposite outer side; and

an LED light source mounted to the inner side of the housing, the LED light source comprising at least one light engine having a plurality of individual LEDs capable of providing light at a wavelength from about 380 nm to about 690 nm.

2. The combination marine habitat and lighting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power supply sufficient to drive the LEDs; and

a controller connected with the power supply for controlling activation status and intensity of one or more of the individual LEDs.

3. The combination marine habitat and lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is waterproof and the LED light source is mounted within the housing.

4. The combination marine habitat and lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the LED light source, when activated, is sufficient to support marine growth.

5. The combination marine habitat and lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the LED light source includes at least one of chip-based, organic or discreet LEDs.

6. The combination marine habitat and lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the LED light source, when activated, provides light with a spectral range of about 380 nm to about 690 nm.

7. The combination marine habitat and lighting system of claim 1 , wherein each of the light engines is capable of providing light intensity of from 0 to 1000 micro mols per square meter per second.

8. A lighting system for marine growth in a marine habitat having an open top, comprising:

a housing disposed over the open top of the marine habitat; and

an LED light source disposed on an inner side of the housing facing the open top of the marine habitat, the LED light source comprising at least one light engine having a plurality of individual LEDs capable of providing light at a wavelength from about 380 nm to about 690 nm.

9. The lighting system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a power supply sufficient to drive the LEDs; and

a controller connected with the power supply for controlling activation status and intensity of one or more of the individual LEDs.

10. The lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the housing is waterproof and the LED light source is mounted within the housing.

11. The lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the LED light source, when activated, is sufficient to support the marine growth.

12. The lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the LED light source includes at least one of chip-based, organic or discreet LEDs.

13. The lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the LED light source, when activated, provides light with a spectral range of about 380 nm to about 690 nm. ,

14. The lighting system of claim 8 , wherein each of the light engines is capable of providing light intensity of from 0 to 1000 micro mols per square meter per second.

15. A method of lighting a marine habitat for marine growth, comprising:

providing an LED light source disposed on an inner side of a housing;

positioning the housing over an open top of the marine habitat;

providing a power supply for driving the LED light source;

controlling illumination of the LED light source at a level sufficient to support the marine growth.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein controlling illumination of the LED light source includes controlling at least one of (a) lighting period, (b) light spectral content, (c) light spatial content, (d) light intensity, and (e) decorative patterns of the LED light source.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling activation status of the LED light source.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling intensity of the LED light source.