However, this makes it very difficult to compare different kinds of light sources, because light bulbs, fluorescent tube lamps and LED lighting are not directly comparable on this point. It is advisable instead to find the number on the packaging which tells you how many lumens the light source produces. Lumens refer precisely to how much light a particular light source gives off, rather than how much energy it produces.
The value is written on the packaging for all light bulbs, fluorescent tube lamps, LEDs, etc. To make it simple, we explain here how many lumens we recommend per litre of water in an aquarium for a selection of plants from the Easy, Medium or Advanced category.
How much light is enough light? That all depends upon which plants you have chosen for your aquarium. If you have chosen nothing but "Easy" plants, lumen 0. For "Medium" plants, we recommend lumen 0. The picture series shows the same aquarium 54 litre starter set with A standard T8 tube of 15 Watts, B T5 tube of 24 Watts, and C 2 x T5 tubes with 24 Watts per tube, in order to visualize how much more light is given off by using a T5 tube rather than a T8 tube, the same amount as you get from switching from one tube to two tubes.
A simple and cheap way to use the light optimally is by always using a good reflector read more about reflectors here as well as by ensuring that the temperature - especially during summer - does not get too high inside the lamp read more about the amount of light given off and temperature here.
The table shows the amount of light lumens from one 15 Watt T8 tube in a starter set compared with sunlight, typically that found in the living room - there is more light in the aquarium than in the living room, but considerably less than plants would experience under natural growth conditions. Remember to use reflectors in your lamp so as to get up to 4 x better use out of the light!
Many cheap starter sets are delivered with a standard lamp without reflectors. Luckily, it is possible to buy reflectors separately and mount them afterwards in the vast majority of lamps. Our calculations show that a good reflector can give up to 4 times better utilization of the light. Note that there is a large difference in the quality of reflectors - we have tried to illustrate this with a photo series! It is easy to ascertain in the shop which reflector is best.
Mount the reflector on a fluorescent tube lamp and look at the reflection of the tube in the reflector. If there is no black band visible in the reflection, the reflector is "perfect". If black stripes appear in the reflection see the example on the right in the top picture , it means there are areas of the tube from where the reflector cannot catch the light - which reduces the utilization of light.
As a rule of thumb however, even a poor reflector e. Type 1 is far better than no reflector at all None! The amount of light decreases considerably with the distance from the light source to the base of the tank, and from the centre out to the corners of the aquarium. In general, use the equivalent of watts for shorter tanks, such as those less than 22 inches deep.
For tanks 22 to 28 inches deep, pick watt options. For deeper tanks, use more powerful lights, such as watts. When it comes to lighting your tank, size matters. Most fish tanks need 1 to 3 watts per gallon of water, while those with plants need 2 to 5 watts per gallon. LEDs work differently than traditional lighting options because they're more energy efficient. They often come in 1- and 3-watt options; the more LEDs you use, the higher the overall wattage they produce. For a small tank, 18 1-watt LEDs on a inch heatsink fixture should equate to watts.
The same number of LEDS on a larger fixture lowers the wattage; for example, 36 LEDs on an inch heatsink bar is equivalent to watts. When purchasing LEDs, read the manufacturer's specifications to determine how many watts the fixture provides.
But in direct sunlight, the algae growth will be out of control, even without any artificial light at all. For best results, an aquarium should be placed in an area where sunlight never reaches it directly. Artificial lighting should be on for a minimum of 8 hours per day but can stay on 10 to 12 hours if this enables better viewing in the evening for the hobbyist. If you are using old-fashioned incandescent lighting, the lighting should be about 25 Watts per square foot of aquarium water.
Another type of available lighting for aquariums is fluorescent and compact fluorescent lighting. If a fluorescent lighting fixture is used, be sure to use the bulbs specifically rated for aquarium plant growth.
The light spectrum needed for plant growth is entirely different than a fluorescent bulb one would find in the kitchen or office lighting. Do not use fluorescent light bulbs from a hardware store; they may fit within the fixture, but they are not ideal for growing aquarium plants. LED lighting has made amazing progress in the growth of exotic plants with some higher-end fixtures, but even the most inexpensive LED fixtures specifically made for aquariums will be adequate for successful and healthy plant growth in a community aquarium.
LED lighting is best for 3 reasons:. Specialty lighting can be fun for effect within a community aquarium. It is advisable to use a timer to turn lights on at a set time and off at a set time every day.
Consistency is necessary for best plant growth and for fish to develop a regular life cycle. Can you leave lights on 24 hours a day without killing your fish? Is it advisable or even humane? Setting the lighting to be on at least 8 hours to 12 hours per day is best, depending on the home schedule of the viewers.
The community aquarium is there for your viewing enjoyment, so set the light cycle to be on when observers are more apt to be in the room.
Is it okay to turn on the lights if a visitor comes at an odd hour and wants to see the community aquarium in all its lighted glory? It is important to remember: a well-run community aquarium simulates nature as closely as possible.
In nature, the sun comes up every day and goes down every day, and the sun does not come on in the middle of the night. Remember this when deciding to turn on the aquarium light out of the cycle. It is okay sometimes, but it is not natural to your fish and their life.
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