How to choose a lamp in the aquarium

In most cases for lighting aquariums use fluorescent lamps. Incandescent bulbs are currently installed rarely, as most of their energy is converted to heat. Fluorescent lamps are economical, are long enough, give a good flow of light. Only drawback is the need to use to connect them to the network electronic ballast or choke.

From the point of view of the holder aquarium fluorescent lamps have two main characteristics: the color and power. The first reflects the color spectrum of the lamp, the latter is expressed in watts. Power lighting devices are on 56, 40, 30, 25, 20(18), 15 and 8 watts. Each of a power level corresponds to a certain length lamp: 120, 105, 90, 75, 60, 45, 20 cm, respectively. Therefore, going for the purchase of the lighting system, measure the length of the aquarium.

Calculate the capacity corresponding to your aquarium. For containers with height of a water column of 45 cm and less take the lamp with a power of 0.5 W per liter. With this you get average illuminance, which is suitable for most plants. If the aquarium is above 50 cm, the lamp power must be doubled.

It should also be noted that in the aquarium gets not the entire light from lamp – part goes up and to the side. To minimize light loss, give preference to lamps with special reflector, the ability to kept up to 95% of the world.

Please note the colour of the lamp. Chlorophyll absorbs light unevenly: in the red-orange region of the spectrum (660 nm), violet blue (470 nm), and the first two times intensified. Therefore, plants need both red and blue (smaller) light. Light with other spectral characteristics may not like the plants and stimulate their growth.

In sale there are currently different capacities of white light and fluorescent light. Lamp white light (LB) in its spectrum coincides with the region of chlorophyll absorption, which is commonly used by hobbyists. Daylight has a lot of blue-cyan region, so for the aquarium it is not suitable.

It is worth noting several varieties and specialized lamps for aquariums. Lamp marked with Aqua-Glo range are specially chosen for maximum overlap with the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll. Its light good color on the fish yellow, orange, red, blue and blue.

Sun-Glo is similar in spectrum to the white light bulb, but it is more balanced. Light source Power-Glo in its spectrum contains blue light. This powerful lighting system can be used in aquariums without plants or marine aquariums. In the presence of plants this lamp must be combined with Aqua or Flora-Glo specially designed for aquariums with plants.