For the normal functioning of almost any aquarium requires artificial lighting. Depending on the number of fish inhabiting the container, and especially plants, light of different quality is required. Gone are the days when the aquarium was illuminated with halogen lamps. Technological progress does not stand still, and now LED lamps are actively shifting the usual fluorescent lamps from their place.
Due to their special properties, LED aquarium lamps are used not only as a backlight, but also as the main source. This article will consider options for various lighting for aquariums, as well as highlight the nuances of calculations when selecting LEDs.
Why LEDs
First of all, it is worth deciding whether it is necessary to mount LED aquarium lighting. Maybe this is a simple fashion trend and the spending of certain amounts of money imposed on the consumer? To understand this issue, it is enough to consider the benefits that can be obtained from the use of LED lighting:
- economy;
- better light match compared to fluorescent lamps;
- wide design possibilities;
- duration of operation;
- sustainable;
- good mechanical protection against damage.
The main reason for introducing LEDs is, of course, economic. The fact is that at the same power, LED lamps emit many times more light. Therefore, the conventional lamp is changed to a much less powerful LED, which significantly saves the cost of lighting the aquarium.
The second important reason for using LEDs is to match the lighting parameters to natural light. Moreover, for specific cases, you can play with the parameters of the LEDs and choose the options that are more necessary for the whimsical plants of the tropics.
Do not brush aside the environmental component. After all, LED aquarium lighting is harmless, since the material does not contain mercury compounds. In addition, the heating of LEDs is not as strong as compared to other lamps, and especially incandescent lamps.
Features of selection
Having decided on the installation of LEDs for the aquarium, before going to buy them, it is important to consider the composition of the inhabitants. After all, if you contain mainly fish, then a special selection is not provided. Of course, you can set a goal and make lighting for a more advantageous view of the inhabitants of the underwater world. But in general, for an aquarium with fish, ordinary light is enough to keep themit was convenient to consider.
It's a completely different question if plants are bred in an aquarium. Especially if the plans include a "Dutch" aquarium with a large number of rare and whimsical plants. In these cases, lighting the aquarium with LED lamps requires a preliminary calculation that takes into account the spectral requirements of the plants. In addition to the luminous flux parameter, which is measured in lumens, you will need to remember such as illumination in lux and light temperature in kelvins.
Varieties of LED lighting for aquariums
LED aquarium lighting can be designed in a variety of ways. Depending on how the LEDs are placed, they are distinguished:
- LED strips;
- lamps;
- LED spotlights.
The use of this or that equipment will depend primarily on the contents of the aquarium, and then on its size. To a lesser extent, the design features of the LEDs will be affected by the shape of the aquarium and the presence and use of its lid.
If you have the opportunity to make your own LED aquarium lighting, do not miss it. In this case, in addition to saving on equipment, you can get an individually designed and implemented design. In addition to the skills to work with electricity, you will need: a 12-volt power supply, wires and the actual LED lights.
LEDlamps
The easiest option for creating LED aquarium lighting would be LED bulbs. It is primarily suitable for small aquariums up to 50 l. Their covers often already contain cartridges designed for conventional classic incandescent lamps with E27 and E14 sockets. For such options, it remains only to choose and purchase a light bulb of the required power and light temperature.
More expensive options will be ready-made rectangular LED panels of a certain length for ready-made aquariums of standard sizes. This aquarium LED light will be very easy to install. For example, you can see equipment from the well-known company Aqualighter.
LED spotlights
Lighting the aquarium with LED spotlights is a very good option for aquariums with an open lid. The LED spotlight is a very bright lamp that can easily reach the bottom of an aquarium of any size and depth. They require only one to three, depending on the size. For example, for a rectangular 100-liter aquarium, one 50 W spotlight or 2 x 25 W will be enough. In the case of the "Dutch" version of the light, you need 1.5-2 times more. That is, it is 1 spotlight for 100 W or 2 for 50 W.
LED strips
Lighting the aquarium with LED strip until quite recently was possible only for small containers. Or it was used as a backlight for lamps of a different type. This is due to the fact that the firstLED strips were made on super-bright first-generation SMD 3528 LEDs. Their luminous flux is only 5 lumens at a power of 0.1 watts. Therefore, a 5-meter strip with 300 LEDs has a power of 30 watts. For an aquarium with good plants, these 5 meters will only be enough for 30 liters, which is structurally difficult to implement.
Now there are tapes containing more powerful LEDs of the new generation SMD 5050, SMD 5630 and SMD 5730. To illuminate most aquariums, including the Dutch ones, there are already enough tapes on SMD 5050, which are only 2 times more powerful (0, 2 W), and emit 18 lm of light each. A 5 meter LED strip, including 300 of these LEDs, easily illuminates a 100 liter aquarium. And this is when used as the main lighting.
The SMD 5630 and SMD 5730 LEDs have a power of 0.5 W each and emit 40 and 55 lumens respectively. When using them in lighting, it is imperative to consider cooling due to higher heating.
Calculation of LED lighting
The calculation of LED lighting for the aquarium is based on approximate standards for this kind of tanks. So, for example, it is assumed that 0.5 W of lighting power and 40 Lm of light flux are needed per 1 liter of aquarium water. At the same time, there are nuances, taking into account which the initial data may change greatly.
- Aquarium for breeding rare whimsical plants, the so-called Dutch, assumes a luminous flux of 0.8-1 Wper liter of volume and luminosity of 60 or more Lumens per liter.
- Elongated aquariums with considerable depth also require brighter lighting, which is selected individually. It is approximately believed that with every 10 cm of depth, the luminous flux decreases by 50%.
It should also be remembered that with the wrong lighting, there can be two main options. In the event of a lack of light, the plants will wither and produce oxygen poorly, which, in turn, can adversely affect the fish. In the case of excessive light flux, rapid growth of both plants and simple algae can be observed. Outwardly, this can manifest itself in cloudy water and overgrowth of the walls of the aquarium. This is especially bad for new tanks, when the main plants are just growing and do not have strength. The simplest algae in this case grow much faster.
DIY
There are several ways to mount LED lighting for an aquarium with plants. Consider the most popular lighting options using LED strips. For example, let's take an aquarium of 100 liters and a 5 m LED strip, including 300 SMD 5050 LEDs of 0.2 W each. Assuming it is a fact that light is best directed from top to bottom for the natural development of plants, let's look at several options.
- We place the LED strip on the top cover of the aquarium in the form of a snake. In this case, the rings can be placed in any direction, but the density of the LEDs must beuniform. Then the tape is glued with a special silicone adhesive that is not afraid of moisture. If the kit already has a starting device with a power supply, then we simply place it on the outside for better heat transfer. If there is no launcher, it must either be purchased separately or constructed from a computer power supply. This work is considered completed.
- In the second version, the LED strip is wound on a cylindrical profile in the form of a fluorescent lamp. It turns out a neat cylindrical LED lamp. If necessary, you can take two cylindrical lamps from one LED strip and make them. Of course, the result is not professional LED aquarium lighting, but such lamps will perform their main functions well.
- If you have blanks and molds from the LED strip, you can make a figure of any configuration. The voluminous chandelier (or several chandeliers) obtained in this way is attached in any convenient way either to the lid of the aquarium or to special brackets in the walls if the aquarium is open.
How easy it is to choose LED lighting
For a simple selection of LED equipment, follow the following plan:
- determine the content and inhabitants of the aquarium;
- taking into account all the parameters, make a calculation based on the standard of 0.5 W per liter;
- decide whether the lighting will be made by hand or bought ready-made;
- knowing the power of the luminous flux and the configuration of the aquarium, choose the designLED lighting - fixtures, lamps, ribbons or spotlights;
- pick up the required amount of equipment;
- install a ready-made LED aquarium light or assemble it from selected components.
For those wishing to conduct LED lighting under water, remember to choose equipment with protection class IP 68. Whereas the standard version of IP 65 implies only short-term splashing, but no more.
Choosing the LED element manufacturer
Lighting the aquarium with LED lamps is becoming more and more popular. Today, LED lighting is offered by several companies:
- Aqua Medic.
- Aquael.
- Hagen.
- Juwel.
- Sera.
- Dennerle.
In addition to the official ones, there is a huge list of companies from China where LED products can be bought for a lower amount. In this case, you will have to check the quality yourself. But one thing is known for sure, the parameters of Chinese LEDs are an order of magnitude smaller. That is, if the luminosity of European and Japanese LEDs corresponds to the parameters, then the Chinese ones will shine weaker.
Conclusion
LED lamps for aquariums are actively used to replace obsolete fluorescent ones. The clear benefits and ease of use are gaining more and more positive responses among aquarium lovers.
