Aqua Escape

Aquarium Lighting Supplies – How is it possible for a 20 watt bulb to have enough power for high light aquatic plant?

I says on the packaging of the bulbs that it does supply enough light, but high light Aquarium Plants require up to 6 watts of light per gallon.

So, how are they still able to thrive?

I have a 60 gallon tank and that only comes to 1/3 of a watt per gallon.

It is a matter of how long that light is on, how far it is away from the leaves of the plant, and how much area your tank has (where the plants are planted. A 20 watt bulb burning 16 hours a day could well be enough to grow plants….trial and error at this point. Too much light and you will have an alga mess.

The lighting in an aquarium is responsible not only for the aesthetic value of the system, but also for the general health of the fish, plants, and invertebrates. The goal when designing a lighting system is to duplicate, as closely as possible, the conditions that these organisms are subjected to in nature. This has become an easier task due to the advancements made in lighting technology in the past 10 years. This article will explain the characteristics of light and how natural light can be duplicated in aquariums.

Measuring light characteristics

Light spectrum

Spectrum charts for 20000K and 10000KThe commonly used unit of measure to measure the spectrum or “temperature” of light is called degrees Kelvin (K). Kelvin is a scale that has been developed to describe the color of light. It is based on the spectrum of light a “blackbody” would radiate at the corresponding degrees Kelvin. At 0 degrees Kelvin (equivalent to -273° Celsius), no light is emitted. As the blackbody warms, red light would start to be emitted. As the blackbody increases in temperature, the light would emit more yellow wavelengths. Warmer still, the light would consist of more green, blue, and finally violet wavelengths. A candle flame on the Kelvin scale has a rating of 1800 K. Sunlight at noon has a Kelvin rating of 5500 K. This light is typically referred to as full spectrum because it contains a blend of all colors throughout the spectrum scale. Remember, the lower the K rating, the greater the color of the light will lean toward the red side of the spectrum. The higher the Kelvin rating, the greater the color of the light leans toward the blue end of the spectrum and is said to have a higher color temperature.

In the natural environment, as light enters the water and passes through the first 15 feet of water, the red and orange wavelengths are absorbed by the water, increasing the K rating of the light, and giving the light a bluer appearance. As the light penetrates to the 30 foot mark, the yellow spectrum is absorbed. As the light continues past the 50 foot depth, the green wavelengths have been filtered out, leaving just the blue and violet wavelengths. This results in light with the highest Kelvin rating.

Light spectrum and intensity in nature

There are a number of factors that affect the color and intensity of light in aquatic environments in nature. These factors include the depth and clarity of water, weather, and clarity of air. Because of these factors, and the fact that water conditions vary between habitats, the spectrum and intensity of light will vary from one aquatic environment to another.

Light spectrum and intensity for aquariums

Fish-only aquariums

Fish-only aquariumThe function of the lighting system on a fish-only aquarium is to provide the fish with a simulated day and night cycle that is necessary for their overall health. Because the spectrum and intensity of the light are not as important as they are for an aquarium with plants or corals, the lighting system for this type of aquarium can be designed based upon other factors involving cost and aesthetics. When determining the cost of a lighting system, take into account not only the initial cost, but also the operating cost of the system. When budgeting, choose a lighting fixture that does not consume excessive amounts of electricity or the need for frequent bulb changes. A good rule of thumb for a fish-only aquarium is to allow 1 to 2 watts per gallon of water. A good choice for this type of setup would be either a standard or a power compact fluorescent system. The spectrum of bulb chosen for this type of setup will only be determined by personal preferences. Generally, a lamp that is focused more on the red part of the spectrum (low K rating) will exhibit colors better than a lamp with a higher Kelvin rating. But, lamps with a low Kelvin rating tend to grow algae at a much faster rate, resulting in more maintenance. If your goal is to illuminate the aquarium with a color-enhancing bulb, you can avoid the excessive algae growth by either using a liquid algae destroyer, or by decreasing the number of hours in a day that the lights are on.

Freshwater planted aquariums

There are a few considerations that need to be made when deciding what type of lighting to install on a freshwater planted aquarium. These considerations are; intensity and spectrum of light, initial and operating costs, and the heat generated by the lighting system.

Most of the freshwater aquatic plants that are available on the market originally came from the shallow tributaries and rivers of Central and South America. The water clarity in these areas is typically murky to stained. Because of the shallow waters that these plants come from, the spectrum of light that they are subjected to is going to be in the full spectrum range, similar to natural daylight. This range on the Kelvin scale is between 5500 K to 7500 K. The intensity of light that the various plants require is going to vary due to the contrasting water qualities in that part of the world. A general guideline to follow when customizing a system is to provide between 2 and 5 watts per gallon depending on the species of plant to be kept.

The initial and operating costs vary widely among the different types of lighting, as well as the type of ballast used with that lighting system. Again, it is often a better idea to buy the system that may be more expensive in the beginning, but is less expensive in electricity usage and bulb replacement. Also, when considering a particular lighting system, make sure that bulbs are available for that system in the proper spectrum range. Some lighting systems are targeted specifically towards saltwater reef aquariums and full spectrum bulbs may not be available.

IceCap Variable Speed FanLast, the heat generated by most of the more powerful lighting systems is considerable, and has to be addressed in the installation of the system. Cooling fans and possibly a water chiller may be needed to maintain the aquarium at the proper temperature. Room temperature also plays a big role in aquarium temperature and needs to be addressed along with the heat developed by the lighting.

Once you have decided on a lighting system, you can then research the different types of plants that are available. Base your decisions on the type of plants that you wish to incorporate into the system by the amount of light that you can provide for those plants.

Saltwater reef aquariums

Reef aquariumThe type of light provided for a saltwater reef aquarium is very important due to the fact that the corals and invertebrates that live in the system rely on light for a major portion of their nutritional needs. The intensity of light that corals and invertebrates require varies dramatically. This is due in part to the varying landscape of the reef and the adaptations that many corals have made to survive in low light conditions. If the correct spectrum and intensity of light is not provided for these organisms, their survival rate will be poor.

Most of the corals that are collected for the hobby come from areas surrounding the reef at a depth of 15 to 65 feet. In the wild, they receive light that is primarily blue in color with a high Kelvin rating.

As with any aquarium lighting supplies, when considering different types of lighting, both the initial and operating costs, intensity and spectrum of the lighting, and the heat that is associated with the unit must be considered. Due to the high costs involved with lighting systems for reef aquariums, they tend to be one of the major expenses of the installation. Not only is the initial expense high, but also the amount of electricity needed to run these systems. Also, depending on the type of lighting, the regular bulb changes can be very costly and will add to the operating costs.

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