Modern lighting fixtures allow to solve a problem of illumination of an aquarium of any type, irrespective of a type of its inhabitants. Besides performance of decorative function, lamps set the tone in an aquarium for normal activity of the water plants, animals and microorganisms providing processing of the organic matter accumulated in water.
Instruction
1. In most cases for illumination of aquariums fluorescent lamps are used. Glow lamps are installed now seldom as the most part of their energy turns into heat. Luminescent lamps are economic, long enough serve, give a good stream of light. A shortcoming is only need to use for connection them to network electronic ballast or a throttle.
2. From the point of view of the holder of an aquarium the fluorescent lamps have two main indicators: chromaticity and power. The first reflects a color range of a lamp, the last says in watts. On power the lighting fixtures happen on 56, 40, 30, 25, 20(18), 15 and 8 W. To each of indicators of power there corresponds a certain length of a lamp: 120, 105, 90, 75, 60, 45, 20 cm respectively. Therefore, going behind purchase of a lighting system, measure aquarium length.
3. Count the power corresponding to your aquarium. For capacity with height of a water column of 45 cm and take a lamp with a power of 0.5 W on liter less. At the same time you receive the average illumination which is suitable for the majority of plants. If the aquarium is higher than 50 cm, the power of lamps needs to be doubled.
4. It is also necessary to consider that not all light proceeding from the lamp gets to an aquarium – a part goes up and to the parties. To minimize light losses, give preference to lamps with the special reflector preserving up to 95% of light.
5. Pay attention to chromaticity of a lamp. The chlorophyll absorbs light unevenly: in red-orange area of a range (660 nanometers), in violet-blue (470 nanometers), and in the first twice more intensively. Therefore, to plants it is necessary both red, and blue light is (less). Light with others spectral to characteristics can not be pleasant to plants and stimulate their growth.
6. On sale there are lamps, various on power, white and a daylight now. The lamp of white light (LB) in the range coincides with the field of absorption of a chlorophyll for what it is everywhere used by aquarians. The fluorescent lamp has a lot of dark blue-light blue area therefore it is not suitable for an aquarium.
7. It should be noted several versions and from specialized lamps for aquariums. Lamps with a mark of Aqua-Glo have the range which is specially picked up for the maximum coincidence to a range of absorption of a chlorophyll. Its light well paints yellow, orange, red, blue and blue colors on fishes.
8. Sun-Glo is similar on a range to a lamp of white light, however it is more balanced. Power-Glo light source contains a part of blue light in the range. This powerful light system can be applied in aquariums without plants or in sea aquariums. In the presence of plants this lamp needs to be combined from Aqua- or Flora-Glo which is specially developed for aquariums with plants.