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LIGHTING IN AQUARIUM


Without light in the aquarium, nothing happens! Earlier, aquariums were placed next to the window, but it's frankly speaking, it brought not only joy (when light falls on the glass at an angle, they overgrow with algae). With the advent of modern fluorescent lamps and the new generation of lighting devices, the problem of illuminating the aquarium has the opportunity of new solutions.

The distribution of light by the closed upper lamps provides the dimensions of the lamps and the quality of the reflection. If the reflective surface (A) is too small, only the part of the aquarium immediately below it is illuminated. A good reflector should illuminate all the corners of the aquarium (B).

Modern waterproof closed lamps are good in shape, suitable and equipped with movable work flaps. The distribution of light in most cases is optimal. In the figure: a two-tube fluorescent lamp from Juwell (in the section).


So, artificial light changed the natural light in our aquariums. Each aquarist should first get some idea of ​​the lighting equipment for his home pond, the duration of the lighting and its intensity, as well as the composition of the spectrum (the color of lighting).
We all know that the normal vital activity of most aquatic animals and plants depends on the spectral composition of light, on its intensity, and on the mode of illumination. The light also exerts a great influence on the normal functioning of various microorganisms, which ensure the processing of organic substances accumulating in water bodies.
In the aquarium, the intensity and spectral composition of the lighting is determined primarily by the needs of the plants. Photosynthesis is associated with the intensity of light. The level of light intensity at which photosynthesis does not increase or even weaken is specific for each individual plant species. There are plants adapted to low or high light intensity. Different and the need for different plant species in the duration of illumination. Many large marsh tropical plants form underwater leaves and become suitable for keeping in the aquarium with a decrease in daylight. With an increase in the duration of daily lighting, the plants go beyond the water, forming air leaves and a flower stem.
The intensity of lighting should be adjusted depending on the height of the water layer and the number of plants, primarily floating on the surface. If there is no natural light, the power for standard aquariums should roughly be 1.5-2 W / L for incandescent lamps, 0.5-1.0 W / L for fluorescent lamps. To ensure the normal life of plants, all visible light spectrum is needed. The most important role is played by two relatively narrow spectral ranges - blue-green (about 440 nm) and red (660 and 700 nm). Light of different wavelengths is of unequal importance for plants. The long-wavelength range of the visible part of the spectrum favorably affects cell division and plant growth in length; Short-wave blue-violet rays inhibit growth, but at the same time cause an increase in mass and flowering. This again demonstrates the need to use artificial sources that would provide a balance of the lighting spectrum.
The duration of natural and artificial lighting is determined by the needs of aquarium plants. Most plant species need a lighting duration of 8-10 hours. Usually a longer lighting time can be harmful. It means the growth of various algae. In this regard, of great interest are instruments for automatic adjustment of aquarium lighting. With the aid of a light relay, the photocell switches on the light when the illumination falls to a certain level. However, a time switch has been used in practice, where a special clock mechanism performs the functions of switching on and off the lighting. As sources of artificial illumination of an aquarium use incandescent lamps, various fluorescent lamps or their combination.
Light incandescent lamps are warm, yellow-orange, it is preferred for many plant species. It is well absorbed by plants and emphasizes the bright colors of the coloration of tropical fish and plants. However, these lamps also have drawbacks, which serve as limitations to their use for illuminating the aquarium. Due to the huge heat dissipation, the incandescent lamp should not be placed close to the walls of the aquarium or placed on a cover glass. Thus, incandescent lamps are inconvenient because of the need to regulate the heat released by them.
The most common are light sources such as fluorescent lamps that have a sufficiently high efficiency (up to 20%) and three times more economical than conventional electric lamps. Most often aquarists use types of lamps, whose spectral composition of light approximately corresponds to solar, with the predominance of blue and red radiation. Of domestic lamps, LB (LBU) and water plants LF (LFU) are the most suitable. They are not suitable for aquariums and are not suitable for aquariums with aquatic plants of the LD lamp (LDC).
Since all objects in nature are illuminated by the sun, plants prefer top lighting. Therefore, it is best to place the light source on top and closer to the front sight glass. Fish in this case look more effective, and plants develop well. It is best when the lamps are in special reflectors (reflectors). The lighting effect can be increased with the help of mirrors, directing the necessary light to those places where little light reaches.
Experience shows that good results are achieved by combining different types of lamps. For example, again from domestic and inexpensive, you can put one lamp LB and one LF.
Since we are talking about the merits of fluorescent lamps, it is worthwhile to dwell on this issue in more detail. So, as almost everyone knows, light can be measured by the work of an exposure meter of your camera. In this case, do not confuse the two terms: lumen and luxury. The color of the lighting can also be measured, which is especially well known to photographers - this is called the "color temperature of light" and is measured in degrees Kelvin.
Let's go further. So, the lumen is a unit of the light flux, that is, the emitted light. Lux is a unit of illumination, i.e. Received light. Instruments for measuring illumination are therefore called luxmeters. When lighting an aquarium inside, you should pay attention to two things. Radiated light should reach as far as possible to the bottom of the aquarium. But there are two "buts." Between the lamp and the bottom of the aquarium there are various interferences and light must be overcome; Accordingly through them to penetrate. First of all it is a cover glass, which should be considered not only as a glass barrier, but most often, especially if it is dirty and as a light filter. Therefore, many aquarists do not use coverslips, only covers, with lamps embedded in them. Secondly, it is a water mirror, i.e. The surface of the water itself. It is no accident that they say: the surface of the water partially reflects the incident light. Finally, the water itself. When the depth is increased for every 10 cm in water of "medium transparency", a loss of approximately 50% of the radiation occurs. Thus, if 2000 luxes are fixed on the surface of the water, only 60 lux will enter the reservoir at a depth of 65 cm, taking into account a 10-cm thick soil and 5 cm of free space above the water mirror. Do you feel the difference? Now look at the figure below.
The color of lighting is probably important not so much for fish as for plants. In the natural life environment of fish and plants, lighting occurs throughout the day and, together with the movement of the sun, changes its spectral colors. For example, if the sky is suddenly covered with clouds, then the light will be colored blue and the color temperature rises to 10,000 K (remember the degrees of Kelvin), while under the clear blue sky and with direct sunlight, this color temperature from the neutral point, which is 5600 K drops to 4300 K. If we compare with the light bulb we had previously considered, at which the color temperature is 2860 K, then this is surprising. Is not it ? For example, for a photograph, the neutral point is set to 5600 K, i.e. daylight. And the so-called norm of light for manufacturers of tubular lamps is 5000 K. But daylight is different.
Look at the pictures below:

As you can see, one daylight and another daylight are two different things. If the color temperature of light rises to 10000K, then the content of blue (slightly bluish white) predominates; If the color temperature drops (slightly yellowish white) due to direct insolation, the maximum intensity of light passes into the region from yellow to red. Visible light is in the range between 380 and 780 nm wavelength (nm or nm nanometer, one billionth of a meter), from purple to dark red.

Well and how now to use the received information to you and what for they generally, you ask. But why:
In the color and intensity of lighting, each aquarist should adhere as accurately as possible to the average daylight indicators. You need to be able to distinguish between fluorescent lamps available for sale. For the process of photosynthesis, the light and color of illumination play an important role: chlorophyll is formed, carbon dioxide is absorbed as well as fertilizers with CO 2 , and plants in turn release oxygen. In fluorescent lamps, a very high content of blue flowers. However, for normal plant development, the latter need a red spectrum, so it is necessary to combine different lamps with so-called "plant radiators". For example, such lamps include Osram-Fluora and Sylvania Gro-Lux. Both give underlined radiation in the blue and red regions of the spectrum, and thus are particularly well suited to the spectra of light that affects photobiological processes.
Currently, Hagen lamps have been distributed:
- Aqua-Glo - the lamp emits the light of the optimal spectrum required by plants. The color is similar to our LB.
- Flora-Glo - a lamp with a "warm" spectrum for plant growth. Has peaks with a spectrum corresponding to peak absorption of plants. In color it is similar to our LF.
- Power-Glo - a high intensity lamp for marine and freshwater aquariums. Reveals a bright color of fish.
- Life-Glo - a lamp with a wide spectrum, simulating the sun. The color is similar to our LD.
- Sun-Glo - a lamp with a wide spectrum, simulating the sun. Something like our LDC.
- Marine-Glo - a lamp that stimulates the growth of corals and other invertebrates in a reef aquarium.
Also remember that these are specialized lamps and they should not be illuminated with all the power. Various fouling may be useful, which will later be dealt with. And even now a huge variety of specialized aquarium lamps have appeared on the market. To tell about all kinds and types is simply impossible, for this purpose it is necessary to create a separate site about light. You can learn more about other types of lamps in specialized magics of your city.
Many aquarists, after learning about such, or similar, specialized lamps often ask the question: Are there any such specials. Lamps, in which plants will come out of the aquarium, and algae generally do not appear. The answer to this question is very simple: THERE IS NO LAMP!
Very many aquarists have never been to their homeland fish. They can only guess what the light conditions are in that living space, or consider that they are well acquainted with them on the seen films. It is very rarely said that a light day in the tropics lasts only 12 hours. For example, at our latitudes the average length of a summer day is 16 hours, but winter shorter. Many aquarists themselves allocate time for illuminating their aquariums. This is not true. From practice it is reliably known that 8-10 hours of strong illumination is quite enough, we already talked about this in this section at the very beginning.

Practical advice:
Better intense light and only 8-10 hours than muffled or scattered - for 16 hours. As a rule, plants generally need 5-6 hours of bright daylight for photosynthesis, i.e. With sufficiently bright illumination the photosynthetic work of higher plants will be very active and the amount of carbon dioxide in the water will inevitably and quickly be assimilated by plants and processed into carbohydrates, amino acids and other organic substances useful for plant development in this short period of time. Further, the activity of higher plants decreases and all the usefulness they have not learned is absorbed with great pleasure by algae. Imagine what this will lead to. Therefore, the rule here is the same - the Light is brighter, the light day is shorter.
By the way, a few words on the topic of turning on and off the light. Most living things in the aquarium have a so-called biological clock. This means that they know when it's time for them to sleep. And it would be wrong without the need to violate the uniformity set by nature in the alternation of day and night. Even if you offer the fish a shifted time of day, they will get used to it. In this case, it is important to regularly turn on and off the lamps at the same time. You can assign this responsibility to the time relay. We have already discussed this at the beginning of this section. The automatic device will perform this work instead of an aquarist, and most importantly never about it will not forget.
The intensity of lighting is a topic that is much discussed, if only because not all plants require the same amount of light. The place where they grow in natural conditions is also not always equally bright. There is one more rule: the higher the tank, the more light you need for it. Long and deep aquariums have an appropriate, i.e. A large surface area that allows you to easily place above it a sufficient number of light sources. Plant lovers can confirm that it is with lighting that many errors are associated, affecting not only sensitive plants. Such errors include, first and foremost, the replacement of tubes. Plants do not like experimenting with the color of lighting, when the tubes are constantly replaced or replaced.
And lastly, as we consider an important advice: If you are particularly important for the good growth of plantations in the aquarium, you must replace tubes no later than 1 year from the beginning of using the lamp. Of course, the old ones also give light, but still not full brightness. If necessary, they can be used for another aquarium. And only when you insert new tubes into the lamp will it become noticeable how great the loss of light was at the former ones.


Before going on to describe the different lighting methods, one more tip. Safety rules are very strict these days, and therefore aquarium lamps located on the upper edge of the tank and not attached to it should be waterproof - the very circumstance due to which their price rises. For the tubes there are various protective devices. Of course, branded goods they are supplied, but if you purchase products unknown to you the manufacturer should carefully examine them from this point of view.
By the way, there are no particularly strict rules for hanging lamps (they do not touch the upper part of the aquarium) - for example, Duplasun or most of the HQL- and HQI lamps, if they do not adhere to the aquarium, but hang over it. Anyone who wants to start an aquarium always starts by calculating costs. If you compare prices, it turns out that good aquarium lids with two or three luminescent tubes for small aquariums are more expensive than a tank. But keep in mind: some of the money you pay "for security."
The material from which the lid is made - plastic or aluminum - does not affect the price: technical costs are still great! Especially since it often comes about some constructive subtleties, simplifying use. So, for example, the firm "Juwel" produces covers for aquariums, where the pre-wired device is not in the very cover, but in a special case, and is connected to the lamp by a five-pole plug connector (the distribution box is located in the lower cabinet).
But many aquarists ask this question: is it necessary, but is it advisable to close the lid with an aquarium? Opinions diverge, but one is indisputable: the evaporation of water without a lid is significantly increased. And here you can not help thinking about what kind of water is flowing from your water pipe. If the water you are pouring into the aquarium needs to be softened by passing through the salt removal unit, then at least to reduce costs it is necessary to close the upper part of the aquarium: the costs of preparing water for refilling will thereby decrease. Aquariums, where you do not necessarily need a top cover, can be illuminated with pendant lights. What should they be like?

In the illustration, a suspended lighting device
Type Duplasun with several tubes. The growth and
The bushiness of plants in the aquarium prove
Intensity of illumination of this type.

The company Dupla produces suspended lighting fixtures, where HQI lamps are inserted into the round reflectors. They provide a particularly intense light reaching the depth of the aquarium. Such lamps are especially suitable for tanks whose overall height is more than 65 cm.


What to choose - fluorescent tubes or lighting fixtures equipped with HQL and HQI lamps? This depends primarily on the height of your aquarium. Luminescent tubular lamps need to illuminate only aquariums up to 65 cm high. Lamps HQL or HQI have a large "depth of stroke". And what is this, strictly speaking, such - NQL and HQI?
These are the so-called "high-pressure mercury lamps" (HQL); Such lamps, and a similar shape, are used for street lamps. Lamps have the shape of an ellipse and differ in the color of the illumination. Although most of these lamps are equipped with a conventional threaded base, they require special designs for their use: first, with a built-in pre-powered device, and secondly, with a special reflector. Последний играет особенно существенную роль: от рефлектора напрямую зависит, хорошо ли будет лампа излучать свет.
Сокращение “НQI” используется для галогенных ламп с разрядом в парах металла. Их обычно размещают в подвесных светильниках, имеющих форму колпака или чаши, но иногда и в плоских (“Duplа”). Фирма “Juwel” выпускает эти лампы (Н-Luх) как “водонепроницаемые”, предназначенные для крышки аквариума. Лампы НQI отличаются особенно высокой световой отдачей и великолепным воспроизведением цвета (разные цвета освещения).


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