LEDs in an aquarium for plants. Lighting the aquarium with LED lamps

An aquarium is one of the most impressive decorations in any interior, and it cannot do without lighting. Daylight is not enough for guests from the aquatic tropics, even when the aquarium is placed near the window, especially for a large aquarium in the back of the room. A well-designed mini-pond is one of the additional elements of artificial lighting in the apartment. Lighting an aquarium with your own hands is easy, for example, using LEDs.

Why do you need light in an aquarium?

In the water column, its own ecosystem is formed; it is based on the relationship between tropical aquatic plants, microorganisms and other inhabitants. Fish are the last link in this ecosystem, but they all need additional light for normal life. Light plays a decisive role in the development, reproduction and activation of growth of aquatic plants. The process of photosynthesis in which carbon dioxide Plants convert water into food, enrich the water with oxygen, and fish breathe it through their gills.

Without sufficient quantity When exposed to light, plants fade and degrade, and stop reproducing by cuttings and layering. The water must be well saturated with oxygen, otherwise the life of mollusks, crustaceans, fish and other inhabitants of the artificial water area is not possible. Green and purple aquarium plants do not absorb the entire spectrum, but part of the range.

Different types of lamps emit a slightly different spectral range, so a combination of them is often used to illuminate an aquarium - fluorescent, LED, halogen and incandescent lamps. IN winter time with their help, they increase the duration of daylight hours over a glass reservoir, like in the tropics, but you should not illuminate the aquarium for more than 10 hours a day, and turn it off at night.

How to find out if there is enough light for the inhabitants of the aquarium

A well-lit aquarium, preferably from the front above, is always pleasing to the eye - the plants are rich green in color with shades of brown, yellowish and purple. Tropical fish are playful and active, and their scales shine with all the colors of the rainbow. However, due to a violation of the eco-balance, which directly depends on the purity of water and lighting, aquarium troubles occur. The water sometimes blooms and becomes cloudy green; incorrect light provokes the growth of single-celled green algae. When the fish are in muddy water They greedily grab the air at the surface - this is a lack of oxygen with an excess of lighting.

If after installing the lighting and after 2-3 months all the inhabitants of the aquarium are still quite comfortable, then this indicates optimal lighting. Signs are clear water, fish are interested in eating and breeding, and plants are actively growing. It also happens the other way around, when the aquarium is a little dark - the plants grow dull and degrade, becoming covered with a black beard, appearance not happy, and everything speaks of its pollution and lack of light.

Tip: Sometimes green, red or blue diodes are added to the backlight to enhance the effect. This is impressive, but only makes sense occasionally, if you have guests or for the mood. With constant use, such experiments are unacceptable, and unnatural lighting depresses fish and negatively affects plant photosynthesis. Although the aquarium is an element of additional lighting in the apartment, for its inhabitants it is still their home. Such a disco, instead simple lighting aquarium with LED strip, harms the health of the inhabitants.

Calculation of lighting power

It is usually recommended that the total power of LED lamps be about 1 W, but the amount of water in a home aquarium can be from 20 liters to 2 tons. For illumination, 0.2 W LEDs are most often used. To determine the number of lamps above your aquarium, there are complex formulas; in practice, for a 200 liter aquarium you will need an LED strip with 30 mini-bulbs of about 3 W or 25-40 spot LEDs.

Aquarists claim that 0.5 W/liter of water is the optimal formula, but this is not accurate either - the higher and deeper the aquarium, the more difficult it is to illuminate the entire thickness of the water to the bottom. Visually, you can also determine these characteristics - the water and all the plants in it should be illuminated evenly down to the bottom. Bottom-dwelling fish and snails need less light, but plants still grow upward. The fish themselves will determine where they are more comfortable - in the shaded part or closer to the surface, but plants are more sensitive and demanding of light due to photosynthesis.

The spectral range in lighting an aquarium with LED lamps with a combination of lamps for illuminating aquatic plants has great importance. They use the orange-red and purple-blue shade range. By combining fluorescent phytolamps and LED lighting of the aquarium, you can get complete lighting that is comfortable for all its inhabitants.

How to light an aquarium

1. A good source of lighting is halogen lamps, which are economical, shine brightly, and additionally emit a little heat. They are made from mercury, and few people use them for lighting aquariums. However, as an alternative to incandescent lamps, they may be quite suitable.

2. The simplest artificial lighting for an aquarium is an ordinary incandescent lamp, which produces a yellow spectrum acceptable for plants; it shades red and yellow fish well. This spectrum is not enough for higher aquarium plants, but it promotes increased growth of phytoplankton and lower algae. Leafy plants gradually become smaller and pale, and if the lamp is too bright, the water blooms. A lamp installed above the water additionally heats the glass and water, creating discomfort for the fish, especially if the aquarium is not purged with a compressor. Such lighting is combined with other lamps, for example, fluorescent lamps, such as LBU (universal), their spectrum is most suitable. Both lamps are mounted on a high box above the aquarium, and its bottom is lined with foil to reflect and focus the light.

3. Fluorescent lamps are more durable and economical, they have diffused light, and they provide a wider spectrum. There are white and blue lamps in the shade of emitted light. An aquarium needs 0.5 W/liter, and a pair of lamps along the length of the aquarium with reflectors will provide illumination for an artificial reservoir of 200-500 liters. For the Dutch type of aquarium, with lush vegetation, 1800K and 1200K lamps with a warm spectrum are chosen; cold 6700K lamps are suitable for rocky terrain and predatory fish. It is easier to purchase lamps with the required range at a pet store or in departments for aquarists. Combining lamps will provide optimal lighting for plants.

4. LED lamps are the most best option. They are the most economical, do not heat the water, and making LED aquarium lighting with your own hands is much easier. Their range is better than other options, the dispersion is more uniform, they do not harm plants and do not cause discomfort to fish. Their range provides great opportunities for combining color effects.

5. LED strip - how additional option Can also be used to illuminate an aquarium. Still, it is better to combine them with other light sources, due to the lack of spectral range.

How to install aquarium lighting

The best visual effect is achieved by illuminating the aquarium from above and in front, that is, at the front wall. Home ponds that are built into cabinet furniture and have a lid that opens from the top for feeding fish fit in seamlessly. Special shelves made from a profile with front lighting also look beautiful, where several identical aquariums with different inhabitants stand on top of each other. Massive cabinets also fit perfectly into the interior, as a stand for an aquarium, where the lighting is made of the same material in the form of a lid. If the lighting is mounted in a cabinet above the aquarium, then it should be covered with glass during installation of the lighting equipment so that nothing falls into the water, and this will bother the fish less.

To optimize electricity consumption, a thermostat is installed on the heating pads, and an electric timer or electric timer is installed on the lighting. circuit breaker. They turn lights on and off without human intervention, which is convenient during busy times. It is also important to consider the origin of most of the inhabitants of the aquarium - tropical fish need more high temperature water and prolonged lighting, while colder waters are not so demanding of this.

Main advantages of LED lighting

LED lamps have recently come into use among aquarists, but quickly became the leaders in lighting. This was due to many characteristics, and this type lamps pushed aside other lighting fixtures.

1. Economical indicator - their cost is lower than other types of lamps, electricity consumption is also optimal with sufficient brightness.

2. In terms of efficiency, such lamps are slightly inferior to fluorescent lamps based on cold cathodes, CCFL, that is, they economic efficiency provides serious savings.

3. High strength, resistance to mechanical stress and insensitivity to vibration due to the absence of thin spirals.

4. The durability of these lamps is impressive, the service life reaches up to 5 years, excluding the cost of components and frequent replacement.

5. The spectral range of LED lighting is favorable for aquarium inhabitants.

6. The greatest safety when handling these lamps is due to operation at low voltage. They are quite fireproof, as they are protected from the influence high humidity and short circuit.

7. LEDs, even when operating for 8-10 hours, do not produce excess heat, allowing you to maintain optimal temperature in the aquarium. temperature regime.

8. LED light bulbs, due to the absence of toxic components and the absence of infrared and ultraviolet radiation, are considered to be highly environmentally friendly..

The only disadvantage of LED lighting is their high cost and the need to supply rated operating voltage; an additional power supply will be required.

DIY LED aquarium lighting

The first method, lighting the aquarium yourself with LEDs, is the simplest, where you can additionally equip a lighting cover with special phytolamps. To do this, a white LED strip is fixed around the perimeter. This will give the optimal spectrum and the most uniform illumination along the upper perimeter of the aquarium. A self-adhesive LED strip filled with plastic is used, where the protective layer is removed and attached around the perimeter of the box.

Such lighting is widely used for decorative purposes, but it cannot be an independent source of lighting for the aquarium. The insulation at the junction of the tape and the cord is made with a special transparent silicone used for aquariums. It will reliably protect the power cord from water. The output wires are marked in red, this is a plus, and the minus is black or blue wire. If the polarity is not correct, the LEDs will not work.

The second method is to assemble a full-fledged aquarium LED lighting of sufficient power without generators and complex equipment. At 200-300 l, a power of 120 W is enough for a richly planted aquarium. This amounts to a total of 40 270 lumen spot LEDs at 3W each. As a result, the illumination will be 10800 lumens, which will give very bright illumination for this volume. It is important to monitor the balance of the entire ecosystem, and with excess light and the development of green microorganisms, it is necessary to reduce the overall intensity.

The cost of such a design can vary greatly, since in online stores from the Chinese, for example, and from more reputable companies you can find LEDs and power supplies of the same quality. However, prices may vary significantly.

For self-installation backlights you will need:

• set of LED lamps,
• 2-2.5 meters of plastic gutter 100 mm wide,
• 12 Volt power supply, can be from a computer,
• soft wire 1.5 mm,
• preferably 6 computer coolers of 12 volts,
• 40 LED connector sockets,
• cutter for processing 48 mm holes.

Along the length of the aquarium, we cut 2 pieces of the gutter, in the bottom of which we drill holes, about 20 pieces per meter, placing them in a checkerboard pattern. We insert LED lamps into the holes and secure them.

All lamps must be connected to power in parallel to a 12 volt power supply. For proper connection, it is better to contact an electrician, since the connection diagram may seem complicated to people who are not experts in connecting lamps to connectors. Computer coolers or fans should be installed when there is a lot of evaporation or heating of the cover for lighting.

For decorative purposes, sometimes they make additional night lighting, such as Moonlight. To do this, connect a little blue LED strip, which can be installed behind the back wall, but so that it is below the bottom of the aquarium. The electric timer will be able to turn it on when the daylight goes out.

Aquarium lighting is required when breeding fish from tropical or subtropical climates, where daylight hours are long throughout the year.

The microclimate is created using water heating and lighting systems. If with the heating of water everything is more or less clear and with the help of the air flows of the compressor it will mix and the heating will be more or less uniform, then with lighting everything is somewhat more complicated. Depending on what kind of fish and plants you keep, the necessary conditions will change.

Why are LEDs better than halogen, fluorescent and incandescent lamps?

Before the advent of new generation lamps, lighting was done on:

1. Fluorescent lamps;
2. halogen lamps;
3. incandescent lamps.

Now everything has shifted towards lighting the aquarium with LED lamps, why is that? Incandescent and halogen lamps emit a lot of heat, which causes additional heating of the water, sometimes excessively, which requires heat removal. Heat was removed using forced air cooling, i.e. cooler (fan). This caused additional noise and costs.

Aquarium lighting with LED strip highlights less heat and produces more light. This is especially true for plants that require strong lighting: from 6000 to 10,000 or more Lux illumination. An incandescent lamp produces from 9 to 20 Lumens for every Watt of its power.

Let's compare classic and LED aquarium lighting, using the simplest calculations of power and illumination as an example.

Comparison of lamp types

1 Lux = 1 Lumen/m2. That is, to provide a classically shaped aquarium (depth less than its length) with a minimum illumination of 6000 Lux, you need about 400 W of incandescent lamp light. When its efficiency is less than 10%, it turns out to be a rather powerful heater, not a lamp.

Halogen lamps have a higher luminous flux, fluorescent lamps have an even higher luminous flux, and the heating of water from them is less. But the latter contain mercury vapor, which, if the lamp is damaged, can bury all living creatures in the water.

However, LED aquarium lighting, as of the day this article was written (end of 2017), is the most effective. LEDs provide 80-140 lm for every W of their power, which is 5-10 times more efficient than competitors.

Lighting is more important for flora. LED lamps in the aquarium will provide the necessary illumination for plants and save money. Think for yourself how much it will cost to operate an incandescent lamp with a total power of 0.5 kW, which operates for 5-12 hours a day. Even the use of automation will not allow you to achieve significant savings. Light from LEDs consumes from 50 to 150 watts, depending on the size of the aquarium.

LED lighting in an aquarium can be used both as decorative lighting and as functional lighting. Spotlights and ribbons can be placed in the lower layers of water, both for illumination and to provide light to plants located at the bottom of the container.

Types of LED lamps

The variety of LED lighting options for an aquarium confuses a person when choosing. Let's look at the types of LED light sources and how to install them. This will help you make a choice when self-production lighting.

LED Strip Light

LED strip is available in various classes of protection from dust and water.

If you plan to use the tape for mounting on the aquarium lid, protection class IP65 is suitable for you. It is protected from splashes and large drops, but cannot be immersed in water. She will feel great near/above water.

In some cases, to illuminate plants located near the bottom and in places with difficult terrain, you need to use LED strip, laid along the bottom. You can place it outside the aquarium with the LEDs facing inward, or in the water, placing it on the bottom.

In such cases, use only IP68 rated tape. It is used to illuminate the bottom of fountains, pools and aquariums. The main task is to ensure reliable.

Colored lighting in an aquarium looks interesting. Use RGB tape to add some color to your interior. Please note that a long show of this kind can negatively affect the flora and fauna of the aquarium.

Blue illuminated aquarium at night

Lighting with powerful diodes (1-3 or more watts)

Such diodes must be installed on a heat sink; this can be either an aluminum sheet, a common radiator, or radiators for individual LEDs. LEDs can be mounted on the lid of the aquarium. Install diverging lenses on them to ensure greater uniformity luminous flux.

There are no special nuances here; detailed production with photos and examples is discussed further, in the “do-it-yourself” section.

Aquarium lighting with LED lamps and spotlights

Easiest to use finished product, such as an LED floodlight. It provides good brightness and quality of light, and the wattage range they are sold in will allow you to choose perfect option LED lighting for your aquarium.

Lighting with conventional LED lamps is also possible, but the main task will be their placement and protection from moisture. If the lamps do not come into contact with moisture, this is a good and budget solution.

How much light do you need? Calculation of LED aquarium lighting

Calculating the number of LEDs must begin by calculating its area. If your aquarium depth is less than its length and width, you can neglect the loss of light in the water column, and make calculations with a margin of 1.3-1.8 times.

Let's say we have a capacity of 1x0.6x0.4 m, which gives us a volume of 240 liters, and the illuminated surface area is 6000 cm 2 or 0.6 m 2.

Required illumination (from the directory):

• If the aquarium contains mainly fish, 3000-6000 Lux is enough;
• 6000-10000Lx for algae and fish;
• 10000-15000Lx is needed for herbaceous and bright plants.

The exact values ​​of the required illumination for specific types fish/plants can be found in modern directories of aquarium flora and fauna.

Chinese LEDs from the bottom price segment produce from 80 to 100 Lm/W, expensive LEDs from well-known brands (OSRAM, Philips, etc.) up to 140 Lm/W.

Let us remind you that 1 Lux = 1 Lumen / 1 m2.

E=F/S, Where E– illumination Lk, F– luminous flux Lm, S- Area, m2 .

Let's apply the formula. Let's express the luminous flux:

Let’s take, for example, the required illumination of 10,000 Lux; we calculated the area to be 0.6 m 2 .

F = 10000 * 0.6 = 6000Lm

The propagation of light and the change in brightness with distance are affected by the inverse square law. Those. with an increase in distance by TWO times, the illumination will drop by FOUR times, and this is provided that the environment is transparent, not smoked or dusty.

6000Lm - the required luminous flux, provided that light passes through fresh air, at a distance of 1 meter. In our country, water is a denser medium, so the light flux should be several times stronger. On the other hand, the depth (distance from the lamp to the bottom) is almost half the calculated one (1 m) and the luminous flux (according to the inverse square rule) at this distance will be 4 times stronger. Therefore, these two indicators exclude each other and do not affect the result.

Now you need to select LEDs for the aquarium based on their spectral composition. Take a look at the chart:

Choosing LED power for an aquarium

Photosynthesis is affected by red and blue colors. Let's choose a ribbon as a basis white 5730 60pcs/m, its luminous flux is about 2000Lm/m, and its power is 14.4W/m. This means we need about 2.5 meters of such tape, this will be more than 5000 lm. Let's add red and blue LEDs 5050 30pcs/m, 2 meters of each color. The luminous flux of each is about 300 Lm/m, power 7 W/m.

In total it turns out 2.5 * 2000 + 4 * 300 = 6200Lm, which is already enough.

When lighting with discrete LEDs, the technique is the same: divide the required luminous flux by the luminous flux of one diode and get the required number of discrete LEDs.

Power supply power:

(14.4 * 2.5 + 4 * 7) * 1.25 = 80 W

This is with a decent margin of a quarter of the power.

An example of making such LED aquarium lighting with your own hands is shown in the photo below.

The LEDs must be secured either with heat-conducting glue, or through a STAR-type adapter plate with thermal paste, and to the radiator with self-tapping screws or rivets.

When it is not possible to provide the required cooling area and the LED aquarium lamp gets very hot, provide active cooling using a cooler. A cooler from a computer power supply will do. The photo below shows suspended lighting for an aquarium with active air cooling.

Made by hand, led light An aquarium light will allow you to control and adjust both the amount and color of your light. By increasing or decreasing daylight hours and light intensity, you can control the growth of aquarium animals.

Natural lighting does not make it possible to create adequate conditions for underwater inhabitants. It illuminates the tank unevenly. IN winter period The length of the day is noticeably shortened. In this regard, it is impossible to do without the use of artificial lighting. Therefore, below we will tell you how to do it DIY LED aquarium lighting using inexpensive and accessible materials.

LED lighting carried out to implement decorative functions, create an optimal habitat for plants and organisms. The importance of LED lamps is due to the following reasons:

• Possibility of creating effective lighting intensity.
• High quality LED lamps.
• Long period of exposure to lighting.

Main features of LED lamps

The advantages of this light source are as follows:

Thanks to the long period of operation, you will not often have to wonder about replacing the ice lighting source. Moreover, arrays consisting of several light bulbs can be used. Disadvantages of this device Not for an aquarium. The only thing I would like to note is its recent appearance on modern market, so this device does not have mass distribution.

Choosing LED lamps for your aquarium wisely

The selection of light bulbs for an aquarium should be based on two key parameters. The first is the intensity of the light flux. The second is color temperature. When choosing a lamp, pay attention to the lumen/W indicator. The higher it is, the greater the energy efficiency, that is, the efficiency of the light source. Also pay attention to the pulsation coefficient of the light flux - let it be less than 5%, ideally 1%. More high values This indicator will lead to increased eye fatigue, and why do you need an aquarium that negatively affects your health.

Each aquarium light has a different color temperature range. In an aquarium it should not be less than 5500 K. The ideal solution is if the color temperature is 6000–8000 K.

If an ice light source with a value of less than 4000K or lower is selected, the light will be excessively yellow. Conversely, a value of more than 6000K indicates a predominance of blue color. The most favorable for an aquarium is this color palette like warm white, cool white or daylight.

The quality level of the light source is at least important role. You should not buy overly cheap lamps. They have an increased glow intensity only during the first time of use. After a certain period of time, the process of degradation of the light source can be observed, which negatively affects the inhabitants of the flora and fauna of an artificial home pond. The choice of lamp shade is an individual decision of the tank owner.

What is the best way to install LED lamps?

You can easily install LED lamps in an aquarium with your own hands. During this work, in order to achieve the most comfortable microclimate in the tank and an attractive visual effect, it is important to do this work correctly. When mounting lamps on top, a cover glass should be provided to help prevent excessive evaporation of liquid, fish jumping out, or water droplets falling onto the bulbs. To save money electrical energy We can recommend setting a timer that will help automatically turn off the lights according to a given pattern.

The main thing is to light the aquarium in such a way that all the needs of living beings and plants are satisfied. If you notice, for example, that the algae are not as bright as before, and the fish have turned pale, then there is a high probability that the backlight is installed poorly. Rotting of plant roots indicates that the LEDs are not directed towards their roots.

It should be noted that the abundance of light is also a mistake in setting the correct amount of lighting. In such a situation, the water blooms and there is a green coating on the walls.

How to light an aquarium

There are two simple ways to organize lighting. The first method is the simplest. Manufactured LED lights for a DIY aquarium will help significantly reduce your costs. You will need an LED strip.

Next, you simply carefully stick it around the perimeter of the structure. Please note that lighting an aquarium with LED strip will make the lighting as uniform as possible, although it will not be energy efficient enough. This tape is sold in a skein. On one side of the strip there are LEDs, and on the other - Double-sided tape. But you should keep in mind that this type of lighting is not the only source for your aquarium. To create complete lighting, it is advisable to use additional T5 or T8 LED lamps. The place where the tape and cord are fixed must have insulation based on silicone filler.

The second lighting method is the installation of LED lamps. It is more popular and allows you to create complete and high-quality lighting of the entire tank. Collect LED lamp for an aquarium with your own hands is not difficult. The lamp consists of a certain number of lamps. How many of them should you take? For a container of 200–300 liters you will need 40 spot lamps. Each bulb must be rated at 270 lumens (3 watts each).

How to calculate the lighting of LED lamps in an aquarium

It is advisable to calculate lighting requirements in lux, which refers to units of illumination. As we remember, for a standard aquarium 6000–10000 lux will be enough. It is necessary to calculate the area of ​​the tank. It is calculated in square meters. The resulting figure must be multiplied by the amount of lux set for the aquarium. As a result, you should get the necessary indicators for a small home pond.

DIY tank lighting with LED lamps

If you first study useful information, then installing aquarium lamps will not cause difficulties. Installation of lamps involves the sequential implementation of the following stages:

Summing up - LED lamps for aquariums - how beneficial are they?

From the information described above, we can conclude that installing LED lamps for an aquarium does not cause additional difficulties. Having previously read the literature on this issue, you can easily install them in a tank using a self-created lamp. Do-it-yourself LED aquarium lighting organized in this way has a large number of advantages. It creates high-quality and complete lighting for underwater inhabitants, is economical, and has a varied combination of colors. The only disadvantage of using lamps is their relatively high cost. However, over time, these products easily pay for themselves. The aquarium operates in energy-saving mode.

Video

An aquarium is one of the most impressive and vibrant decorations of any interior. Unfortunately, it cannot do without additional lighting. This is due to the fact that there is simply not enough daylight for its inhabitants, even if the aquarium is placed near the window. In addition, a properly designed mini-pond will be an excellent source of additional lighting in the house. We will tell you how to make your own aquarium lighting so that it is ideal for your aquatic pets and fits harmoniously into the overall interior.

Why do you need light?

According to the laws of nature, the water column forms its own ecosystem, which is based on the close relationship between aquatic plants, various microorganisms and its other inhabitants. As for fish, this is the last link in this ecosystem, which also requires an additional light source for normal life. In addition, light plays a huge role in the development, activation of growth and reproduction of aquatic plants. This is due to the process of photosynthesis, during which carbon dioxide, which is in the water column, is processed by plants. Thus, the water is enriched with oxygen, which the fish breathe. If there is not enough light, then the plants begin to fade and stop reproducing.

Important! Notice that green and purple aquatic plants in an aquarium they absorb not the entire spectrum, but part of the range.

In order to make a lamp for an aquarium with your own hands, you should consider that different types lamps emit different spectral ranges. That is why very often they are used in combination for additional lighting of the aquarium, and not separately.

Important! In the cold season, additional lighting increases the duration of daylight hours. But it is not recommended to illuminate the aquarium for more than 10 hours, so the lights should be turned off at night.

How to determine whether there is enough light for the inhabitants of an aquarium?

The main sign of good aquarium illumination is plants of a rich green color, with various shades of yellow, purple and brown. Pisces, in turn, are active and playful, and their scales will shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow.

Important! Due to the disruption of the eco-balance, which depends on the purity of water and proper lighting, the water begins to bloom and turns cloudy green. Accordingly, the fish do not have enough oxygen, they begin to actively grab air at the surface.

If after installing additional lighting 2-3 months later, the inhabitants of the aquarium feel comfortable, this means that the lighting was installed correctly.

Important! Sometimes, in order to enhance the effect, blue and green diodes are added to the backlight. This is used for decorative purposes only. Unfortunately, it is not recommended to turn on such lighting often, as it negatively affects plant photosynthesis and inhibits fish.

How to calculate lighting power?

In order to illuminate an aquarium with your own hands, you should first calculate the lighting power, since the life activity of its inhabitants directly depends on this:

• The standard is the total power of all LED lamps is about 1 W, but the amount of water should be in the range of 20 liters-2 tons.

Important! To illuminate the aquarium, LEDs with a power of 0.2 W are mainly used.

• As for more precise definition number of lamps, there are quite complex calculation formulas. For example, for an aquarium with a volume of 200 liters you will need an LED strip with the number of lights of 30 pieces or individual spot LEDs of about 25-40 pieces and a power of 3 W.
• In practice, the most correct ratio is 0.5 W per 1 liter of water. But, unfortunately, it is also not accurate, since the higher the walls of the aquarium, the more difficult it is to illuminate the water column at the bottom. In addition, you can visually determine this parameter. Plants should be illuminated evenly and all the way to the bottom.

Important! Please note that the spectral range of lighting from LED lamps is of great importance for the inhabitants of the aquarium. This is due to the fact that they use purple-blue and orange undertones. Therefore, combining fluorescent lamps and LED lighting, you can get full lighting that will be comfortable for all residents.

Choosing devices for aquarium lighting

Most often, the following types are used to illuminate indoor mini-ponds: lighting fixtures.

Halogen lamps

They are quite economical, shine brightly, and at the same time emit a little heat. Such lamps are made on the basis of mercury, so they are used quite rarely for lighting aquariums. But as an alternative to incandescent lamps, halogen lamps would be quite appropriate.

Regular incandescent lamp

It gives a yellow spectrum, which is acceptable for the inhabitants of the reservoir. Unfortunately, this spectrum is not enough for tall aquarium plants. As for the leafy ones, under such lighting they gradually become smaller and pale.

Important! If the incandescent lamp shines too brightly, the water begins to bloom.

Such lighting additionally heats the water and glass, thereby creating discomfort for the fish. Therefore, it is not recommended to use an incandescent lamp as an independent lighting device, but rather to combine it with others, for example, fluorescent ones.

Luminescent

They are quite durable and economical. Due to the fact that the light of such lamps is diffused, the spectrum of illumination also becomes wider. The aquarium needs a standard proportion of 0.5 W/liter, and several additional light bulbs placed along the entire length of the aquarium.

Important! For the Dutch type of aquarium, with the presence of lush vegetation, incandescent lamps with a power of 1800 K and 1200 K are chosen.

LED bulbs

This is the best option. This is due to the fact that they are economical and do not heat the water. It's easy to make LED light in an aquarium with your own hands. The dispersion will be more uniform, due to which the lamps do not harm plants or cause discomfort to fish.

Important! Due to large assortment different colors, you will have the opportunity to combine and create a variety of design effects.

LED Strip Light

It is mainly used as additional element for lighting an aquarium. Due to the lack of spectral range, the LED strip should be combined with other lighting devices.

How to install lighting for an aquarium?

• It is best to install the lighting from above and at the front wall of the aquarium.
• In addition, it looks very organic when home ponds are mounted in cabinet furniture, and the lid for feeding fish is placed on top.
• Also original solution There will be special bookcases that are made of a profile illuminated from the front.
• Quite often, special cabinets are used as a stand, where the lighting is made in the form of a lid.

Important! If the lighting is mounted above the aquarium in a cabinet, then it should be covered with glass during installation so that nothing gets into the water and disturbs the fish and other aquatic inhabitants.

To optimize electricity consumption, a special thermal relay is installed on the heating pads, and an electric timer is installed on the lighting, due to which they turn the light on and off without additional human intervention.

Important! When installing aquarium lighting with your own hands, it is very important to take into account the origin of its inhabitants. For example, tropical fish need warm water and long-term illumination.

How to make an LED lamp for an aquarium with your own hands?

There are two ways to make your own LED lamp for a home mini-pond.

Method No. 1

This is the simplest option in which you can equip a lighting cover equipped with special light bulbs. To do this, you need to secure a white LED strip around the perimeter. Due to this, you will receive an optimal spectrum and uniform illumination.

Important! For these purposes, it is best to use a self-adhesive LED strip filled with plastic.

Such lighting is often used for decorative purposes. Unfortunately, it cannot be used as an independent source of lighting for an aquarium.

Method No. 2

It consists of assembling full-fledged LED aquarium lighting of sufficient power without connecting additional generators and complex equipment.

Important! For an aquarium with a volume of 200-300 liters, 120 W is considered sufficient power. This involves 40 spot LEDs of 3W each at 270 lumens. As a result, you will get quite bright and complete lighting.

The cost of such a design varies, depending on the quality and price position of the LEDs and power supplies.

To install this lighting yourself, you will need the following materials and tools:

• Set of LED lamps;
• The gutter is 100 millimeters wide, plastic;
• Power supply 12 Volt;

Important! You can use a computer power supply to make an aquarium light.

• Soft wire with a diameter of 1.5 millimeters;
• 6 computer coolers;
• 40 pieces seats for LEDs;
• Cutter for processing holes with a diameter of 48 millimeters.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Cut 2 gutters equal to the length of the aquarium.
2. Drill holes, staggering them at a frequency of 20 per 1 meter.
3. Insert LED lamps into the prepared holes and secure them.
4. Connect all light bulbs to the power supply.

Important! Computer coolers are installed in the presence of large fumes and high heating of the lighting cover.

In order for the inhabitants of the aquarium to delight you every day with their beauty and activity, it is very important to provide them proper care, which includes well-installed lighting. By applying the advice of our experts in practice, you will be able to correctly calculate required amount lighting fixtures and their power, and your small home pond will become not only the main highlight of the interior, but also a favorite gathering place for the whole family.

When thinking that it would be nice to have an aquarium, you need to take care not only of the jar and its inhabitants. To successfully keep plants and fish, you need to properly illuminate the aquarium. There are special lamps for this, but they cost a lot, and making a simple one with your own hands is not difficult. You just need to figure out how many lamps are needed, what power and “color”.

When creating aquarium lighting, the main goal is to imitate sunlight as closely as possible. Since almost the entire aquarium “population” comes from the equator, it is necessary to recreate the tropical regime. Firstly, it is the same (or almost the same) duration of daylight throughout the year (10-12 hours).

Lighting an aquarium with your own hands is not an easy task, but everything can be done...

Secondly, variable lighting intensity: peak at noon and several subsequent hours and moderate lighting at other times of the day. If the lighting of the aquarium is done according to these principles, its inhabitants will delight you with bright colors, and the plants will delight you with lush greenery and rapid growth. Such “multi-level” lighting can be implemented using a large number of lamps (not one powerful one, but several less powerful ones) and a timer/controller that will automatically change the light level.

Lamp power calculation

A preliminary estimate of the lamp power required to illuminate an aquarium can be based on the common principle of determining the required lighting by the amount of water in the container. Exactly water. Not the volume of the jar, but the amount of water. That is, from the volume of the container you need to subtract air gap and volume displaced by soil. According to the amount of water received and the type of aquarium (sea, freshwater, herbal), type of inhabitants (bottom, shadow lovers or light) calculate approximately the required lighting power. For aquariums different types There are recommendations, which are summarized in a table for convenience.

According to this table

Knowing the volume of water in your aquarium, using this table it is easy to calculate the required lamp power. But the data is given for incandescent and halogen lamps. If you use them to illuminate the aquarium, no problem. If you decide to use other types, you will have to recalculate. You can do this again like this:

• when using fluorescent lamps, their power is calculated as 1/3 of the found figure;
• when installing LEDs - 1/7.

Approximately the same pattern is reflected in next photo. You can also navigate using the table.

Don't think that's all. You also need to take into account a bunch of factors - the depth of the aquarium, the transparency of the water, the height of the light source... And each of these parameters can make adjustments to the found figure. Moreover, many aquarists believe that the optimal lighting for an aquarium can only be selected experimentally, since there are not so many “theoretical” calculations and it is simply unrealistic to take into account all the factors. So making aquarium lighting with your own hands is not easy. But we have already found the base - the approximate brightness of the light sources. You can rely on this figure and change it later.

Taking into account the depth of the aquarium

As you know, when passing through water, light significantly loses its brightness. It is generally accepted that every 10 cm takes away 50% of its brightness. That is, if the illumination on the surface is 2000 Lux, at a depth of 50 cm there will already be a little more than 60 Lux. This situation is clearly demonstrated in the following figure. Therefore, the higher the tank, the brighter the lighting should be.

The normal condition of the aquarium will only be if the light reaches its bottom in the required amount. The minimum illumination at the bottom should be 60-90 lm. Knowing the parameters of your container and the calculated brightness of the lighting, you can calculate the approximate amount of light that will reach the bottom. If it is below the specified norm, increase the brightness until it is within the required limits.

Arrangement of lamps for illuminating the aquarium

Most often, lamps for lighting an aquarium are placed on top. This is logical - the sun also shines from above. But the lamps can be located close to the surface of the water, resting on the edges of the jar, or they can be suspended - at a distance of several tens of centimeters from the water surface. The installation method is chosen depending on the amount of heat generated by the lamps. Just remember that hanging lights should be even brighter to compensate for the scattered light.

If there is only one lamp, it is shifted towards the largest concentration of plants - towards the back wall of the aquarium

If there is a need to hang a lamp, then everyone solves the problem in their own way. Depending on capabilities, ideas, level of skills or imagination. Some people make rods that are attached to the wall or floor, others lower pendants from the ceiling. Some craftsmen make supporting structures based on the edges of the can...

To ensure that the maximum amount of light enters the water, the lamps are screened on top with reflective covers. In the factory version, this is most often a thin sheet of polished of stainless steel, when making it yourself, they often use foil.

Number of lamps and their placement

Lighting in an aquarium is most often done using linear lamps. This is more convenient during installation, and the illumination is more uniform. There can be one or several tubes. If there is only one light source, you need to position it so that it illuminates all the plants. In this case, the tube is placed moving it away from the far edge of the jar by about 2/5 of its width. Why not in the middle? Because most of the plants are concentrated near the back wall and they require more light. If there are two or more tubes, they are still shifted more towards the back wall of the can - the reasons are still the same.

In any case, the nonlinear shape of the lid, in which reflectors redirect the light, also helps to redistribute the light more evenly. Companies involved in the production of aquarium equipment conduct research on this topic, and if they make their own aquarium lighting, they try to copy their developments. Moreover, homemade products often give better results.

When using classic-looking lamps, they are placed at equal intervals. Depending on the number of lamps - in one, two or three rows. If there are two or more rows, it is better to place them staggered - in a checkerboard pattern. If several lamps are used, when selecting their power, take a certain margin. After all, it has long been known that one 100 W lamp gives more light than two 50 W lamps.

Types of lamps for light in an aquarium

Selecting lamps for lighting an aquarium is not an easy task. It's not just about power, but also about the spectrum they emit. Selecting the spectrum or temperature of the glow is a complex and individual matter, but we will talk about choosing the type of lamps from the point of view of their technical characteristics.

Incandescent lamps

These lamps have two advantages - low cost and a spectrum as close as possible to that emitted midday sun. But these advantages are crossed out by two bold disadvantages: high power consumption and a huge amount heat emitted by the flask.

When using incandescent lamps to light an aquarium, the bills will be large. In addition to the costs of lighting itself, energy will be added to the operation of fans, with the help of which heat is removed. A large number of heat also imposes restrictions on the materials used to make the lamp. They must be heat resistant. All this was the reason that these lamps were practically abandoned. There may be examples of single use in combined lighting - just to create a “midday” peak of illumination.

Aquarium lighting: fluorescent lamps

These lamps are more economical in terms of energy consumption - they draw 3 times less electricity. They come in two types - with a standard base or in the form of tubes (linear). They also heat up much less, but require special lamps, since special devices are needed to start them. These lamps have a minus - they change the spectrum of emitted light over time. Therefore, they are changed every 6-12 months. Even if they continue to work. The plants simply no longer “like” the light they emit, and they begin to wither.

Tubular fluorescent lamps come in different spectrums of emitted light. The choice here is very wide; you need to select it according to the “population” of the aquarium. They also come in three diameters, but T8 and T5 are usually used to illuminate aquarium plants. Moreover, the more popular one is T8. Although they are quite thick, they are much cheaper than the “fives”. And since you still need to change them at the same time, it’s more rational to buy “eights”.

There are three more technologies by which fluorescent lamps are produced. NO - lamps household class with a low level of luminescence. They can be used in shallow aquariums - with a water column height of no more than 50 cm. The two other classes VHO (Very High Output) and HO (High Output) shine brighter, but are also much more expensive. They can illuminate deeper containers.

Metal halide

These are very bright lamps that are used when the water column in the aquarium is 60 cm or higher. If you want to have “sunbeams” at the bottom, a play of light and shadow, you need MGL lamps. They look like a tube with clamped edges into which contact “legs” are inserted. They are inserted into special connectors that are attached to the lid of the aquarium. Metal halide lamps can also be supplied with a standard base.

The downside of this lamp is its considerable price and a significant amount of heat that is generated during operation. The price is compensated by the long service life, and the problem of heat removal is solved by hanging the lamp. The height is preferably at least 30 cm above the water level. The brightness of the lamp is high enough that there will still be enough light at the bottom.

LEDs

This type of lamp appeared relatively recently, but is gradually becoming more and more popular. LEDs have very good characteristics. Today they consume the least energy, have a long service life, can emit light of any spectrum and heat up little. They have a peculiarity - they operate on reduced voltage - 12 V or 24 V. To connect to a regular network, an adapter (converter) is required. This is not very convenient and requires additional costs, but it increases safety, since such voltage is not dangerous to health. For a combination of these reasons, aquarium lighting is increasingly being done using LEDs.

They come in several forms:

What else attracts LEDs is that it is easy to adjust the brightness of the lighting by installing a regular regulator, or by creating a connection diagram so that you can turn them on gradually, quite accurately reproducing the change in illumination during daylight hours.

LEDs still emit heat during operation, but their body heats up. It is easier to remove such heat - mount them on a metal plate, and place a cooler on top (low-power and quiet fans). It is better to take aluminum ribbed plates, which are often called a radiator.