Proper organization of comfortable conditions for fish in the aquarium involves the installation of additional lighting . And the most common lamps for this purpose are luminescent. They directly affect the health of fish, their coloring, the growth and flowering of plants. In addition, with the backlight the aquarium looks more noticeable and attractive.
Aquarium lighting with fluorescent lamps - "for" and "against"
Among the indisputable advantages of fluorescent lamps for the aquarium:
- large area of illumination;
- absence of heat release during operation;
- a large assortment of sizes (length and diameter of the lamp);
- different range of colors;
- actinic light.
However, it should take into account the decrease in the light flux from the fluorescent lamp at a temperature above + 25 ° C. In other words, this lamp works well at an air temperature of + 25 ° C, but the quality of lighting deteriorates when it changes. Solve the problem by drilling in the cover of the aquarium ventilation holes. Also, the installation of ballasts in the reflector should be avoided, as they inject additional heat during operation.
Another disadvantage of fluorescent lamps for an aquarium is a decrease in the light flux as they age. Remember that after 6-7 months the lamps require replacement for similar ones. But you can not change all the lamps at the same time, and it's best to do it in turn, so that there is not a sudden change in the illumination, which can badly affect the plants.
Which fluorescent lamps are needed for an aquarium?
There are several varieties of these lamps for aquariums:
- conventional lamps with a different range of color spectrum and diameter;
- fluorescent two types - HighOutput (HO) and VeryHighOutput (VHO).
What kind of fluorescent lamps are suitable for aquariums of one type or another? Conventional lamps are suitable for small freshwater aquariums , whereas for deep sea aquariums and aquariums with reefs, more powerful fluorescent ones are needed.