How to choose a lamp for an aquarium?

When choosing lamps for an aquarium, remember that theirthe main purpose is not beauty for the aquarist, but a quality light for fish and plants. If previously only simple incandescent devices were available to the buyers, now all sorts of light bulbs with different spectra of light and power are offered for sale. Buying lights for a domestic aquarium according to their capacity and type, choose to your choice with particular care, because excessively bright light can become an enemy to your fish and aquarium plants.

Halogen lighting fixtures

Buying energy-saving lamps for the aquarium,you can pay attention to ultramodern halogen lamps, which are often chosen by professional aquarists. This type of instrument is suitable only in those cases where it is required to create high-quality lighting for an open aquarium, and as an additional element, a light filter, capable of delaying various ultraviolet waves, will be required.

Fluorescent lamps

Modern aquarists are most oftenacquire fluorescent lamps for the aquarium, inside which there is an inert gas argon and mercury vapor. A thin layer of phosphor, capable of converting ultraviolet lines in mercury to the visible light of a person and fish, is usually applied to such an article. And to get the right radiation spectrum, you have to change the composition of the phosphors. Such lamps are considered an ideal option for the top lighting of the aquarium, and for lighting it is enough to install in the lid with its longest side.

As a rule, during turn-on, the luminescentlamps do not heat up, and also do not radiate excess heat, which harms the inhabitants of the aquarium. However, the lighting fixture must remain waterproof, so that no splashes occur due to splashes. Fluorescent lamps for the aquarium remain economical, capable of giving an excellent luminous flux, are designed for a considerable period of operation. But they are not without flaws, and the main disadvantage of such lighting devices is the need to connect them with a special device - electronic ballast or throttle.

Special lamps

In recent years, the domestic market has been widelySpecial lamps for the aquarium are shown on which the color temperature is indicated - data on the emitted spectrum. Models, where such a temperature does not exceed 5500-6500K, are intended only for shallow aquariums filled with fresh water, since in this case the light spectrum simply does not pass through a thick layer of water, and the bottom will remain absolutely unlighted. They can be used to illuminate artificial "reefs" in the aquarium by directing to this object, and to create a bluish-violet backlight you need to use an additional lamp, where the actinic radiation is used.

Some buy aquarium lamps with a color temperature of about 8000K, since this spectrum of light is ideal for many plants.

A device with increased light output is recommendedUse to illuminate the bottom of the aquarium of considerable depth, and metal-halide light bulbs are suitable for this. Their power remains the highest, and the device itself is often installed in a suspended fixture. Features of metal halide instruments consist in excellent color reproduction, as well as in high light output, but they must be used only in luminaires of a certain configuration and paired with various special ballasts.