How to make DIY aquarium LED lighting. How to make a light in an aquarium Additional light in an aquarium

Why is proper aquarium lighting important? The main role of lighting is to be able to observe the inhabitants of the aquarium, but more importantly, the right lighting provides the necessary vitality and normal photosynthesis in plants and animals. As the main source of light, aquarium lighting is essential for any system containing photosynthetic organisms such as plants, sea anemones, or corals.

Lighting affects the behavior of fish, their physiology, and is also vital to the overall health of the entire aquarium.

Aquarium lighting options There are many options for lighting aquariums, the variety of which makes it possible to provide the right lighting for the life of specific inhabitants.

Aquarium lighting is grouped into four main categories, ranging from legacy to innovative technologies - general purpose fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, metal halide, and LED.

• Fluorescent Lamps - These versatile lighting systems are the easiest way to light up an aquarium.

  Fluorescent lights are an excellent choice for freshwater and marine aquarium fish. A huge variety of these easy-to-use, inexpensive and energy-efficient lamps will allow you to perfectly customize your aquarium lighting.

Actinic lamps for aquariums - emit blue-violet light in the 400 nm wavelength range, which is especially favorable for the photosynthetic growth of corals and invertebrates. Ideal for use in deep reef aquariums when combined with a 10000K (Kelvin) T5 fluorescent lamp.

Nanometer - nm, a sub-multiple unit of length in the International System of Units (SI) = one millionth of a millimeter, or one billionth of a meter.

The most commonly used unit of measure for the wavelength of visible light.

Full spectrum fluorescent lamp (T5 or T8) - visually close to natural sunlight, contains a mixture of different colors of the color spectrum, ideal for all types of freshwater and marine aquariums.

Due to the full spectrum, the lamp inhibits the development of algae, color temperature = 9000 K.

Fluorescent lamp daylight (T8) - designed for an aquarium with marine life, as well as corals and other invertebrates, the lamp has a cold white spectrum with a color temperature of 15,000 K (kelvin).

Full spectrum lamp for intense light in freshwater aquariums (T8) - stimulates the synthesis of chlorophyll and the photobiological processes of plants, enhances colors in freshwater aquariums, provides plants with light; color temperature 10000 K.

Designation T5 and T8 for fluorescent lamps.

T - the diameter of the tube, the so-called T-size, the number following the letter is the value of the diameter in eighths of an inch. So marking T8 indicates the size of 26mm, and T5 - 16mm.

T5 lamps are a new generation of lamps, and have some advantages compared to the T8 lamp, namely increased light output, up to 30% energy savings, extended service life, 5% drop in luminous flux after 10,000 hours of burning, smaller size.

• Compact fluorescent lamps - the light output in this type of lamp is higher than in general-purpose fluorescent lamps.

  Instead of a single-tube incandescent lamp, compact fluorescent systems include double-tube or four-tube bulbs for greater light output.

  The compact fluorescent luminaire is able to replace two standard fluorescent lamps, it is also easy to use and maintain, and it has all the advantages of daylight lamps: it is low heat generation, and a wide choice of lamps with different color temperatures, which will be ideal for both freshwater, as well as marine aquariums.

• A metal halide lamp is a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp with an efficiency of over 100 lm/W and a lifespan of approximately 20,000 hours.

  Unlike other types of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps such as sodium or mercury, the light spectrum and color rendering make metal halide lamps suitable for aquarium lighting. This type of lamp is ideal for reef aquariums with inhabitants that require high light levels.

  How to make light in an aquarium

  In addition, lamps are used for very large aquariums, deeper than 60 cm, where other types of lamps do not have enough power to provide sufficient lighting.

• LED lamps - and as a relative "newcomer" to lighting the aquarium world, are often the subject of various misconceptions. Read more about LED aquarium lighting here.

Calculation of lighting for an aquarium

The calculation of LED lighting is calculated in lumens (a unit of measurement of the luminous flux lm or lm), for unpretentious plants, 20-40 lumens per liter are needed, for more demanding 40-60 lm.

The lighting of aquariums with fluorescent lamps with reflectors is calculated in terms of W / l, according to the following scheme:

• Aquarium without plants - 0.1-0.3 W / l
• Aquarium with few plants - 0.3-0.5 W/l
• For shade-loving fish - 0.2-0.4 W / l
• For lighting a decorative aquarium with live plants - 0.5-0.8 W / l
• Aquarium with a high density of planted plants - above 0.8 W/l

Optimal color temperature for aquarium inhabitants:

Deep aquariums need to be provided with actinic light, especially saltwater aquariums.

• Fish - 5500 - 20000 K (kelvin), depending on the species.
• Reefs - 9000-20 000 K, as an addition actinic light.
• Plants - 6500-18 000 K, depending on the species
• Lamps with a color temperature of 10,000 K have bright white light and are suitable for any aquarium.

The duration of aquarium lighting should not exceed 12 hours (can be varied within 9-12 hours).

Of these, continuous lighting can be at least 4 hours, with a 2-3 hour break during the daylight hours.

As a rule, the average aquarist turns off the lights in his aquarium at night.

Well, yes, you say, you yourself write in articles about the need to maintain daylight hours in an aquarium.

Quite right, my inquisitive reader. Some of the beginners tend to think about the question: what are my fish doing at night in the aquarium!? How are they behaving? Can you put up a night light?

However, nature has provided for everything before you, creating the Moon and moonlight, respectively. And the task comes down to simulating moonlight in an aquarium.

This is where LED aquarium lighting can help.

How to make LED lighting

The blue color of the LEDs was chosen, although there is not the slightest difference which one to choose.

I did all the work on my own aquarium lid with lamp.

You may have a completely different design, which you need to consider.

Also consider the need to limit the current to the operating value of the LEDs using resistors. I was too lazy to calculate, and I used this site to calculate the circuit and the number of LEDs.

Once you decide to add LED lighting to your aquarium, determine which and how many LEDs you will use.

You will also need a slightly different tool and spare parts, namely:

• The blue light LEDs themselves, I opted for 2.8V / 20mA
• Resistors (resistors)
• Connecting wires
• Power supply or other voltage source. I used 6V/100mA
• Soldering iron and solder
• Screwdriver
• glue gun
• Hands growing from the right place

(From the translator and editor: In a specific case, the list of equipment will vary.

DIY aquarium LED lighting

On given in the article, you can navigate as a basis).

We disassemble the existing aquarium lamp, we need to get to its casing.

In the process of dismantling, do not damage the lamp itself and its reflector.

Since the aquarium lamp runs on 220V, it makes sense to hide the LED power supply under the lamp cover and connect it there.

LEDs on the casing, we fasten with a glue gun.

Avoid getting glue on the LED head. You have to glue it, not glue it completely.

In the case of a metal housing, do not let the LED contacts touch the metal of the cover. Yes, you will get that short circuit.

All wires, LEDs and other connection points are carefully soldered and insulated.

It remains only to collect everything back and turn it on.

As you can see, DIY LED lighting is workable.

aquarium night lighting

For the full effect of changing day and night, all that remains is to add a timer. But, it is optional and optional.

Video: Moonlight in an aquarium

May the current and brightness of the LEDs be with you. 🙂

How to DIY Aquarium LED Lighting

For beginner aquarists, the question often arises - how much light is needed in the aquarium and how to correctly calculate the level of its illumination. The issue becomes especially relevant for aquariums with live plants.

As a universal method for calculating illumination, the ratio - lumens per liter of water (Lm / L) is used. Lumen is a unit of measurement of luminous flux, the higher this value of a lamp, the brighter it is, which means it can illuminate a larger volume.

Aquarium lighting levels

Low - 15–25 lumens per liter
Medium - 25–50 lumens per liter
High - more than 50 lumens per liter

Knowing the need for light of one or another hydrobiont, as well as the volume of the aquarium, you can choose a lighting system that is suitable in terms of power.

for example, for a 50 liter tank with shade-loving plants (low light level) a 10 W LED bulb will do, which gives 935 lumens, so you get 18.7 lumens per 1 liter of water.

Attention, often there are erroneous tips, where the ratio of the number of watts per 1 liter of water (W / l) is taken as the calculation for aquarium lighting, which is completely unacceptable, since at the same power, different types of lamps will give different amounts of light.

A simple example - the brightness of a modern LED is ten times greater than the brightness of an incandescent bulb of the same power.
LED lamp in 10 W = 935 lm
Incandescent lamp at 10 W = 50 lm

The dependence of the illumination on the location and height of the lamp above the water

The level of illumination of the aquarium is determined not only by the power of the lamps (lamps), but also by their location and height above the water surface, which must be taken into account when placing plants in the aquarium.
for example, if the light source is located in the center of a rectangular aquarium, then the most illuminated place will be directly under the lamp, while on the sides the light level can drop by 5 or more times.

The dependence of illumination on the location and height of the lamp above the surface of the aquarium

Options for the location of the lamp above the aquarium and the degree of illumination of the water surface depending on the height

Light regime in the aquarium and the spectral composition of light

Without lighting, the aquarium looks dull and dull.

Do-it-yourself aquarium lighting

Only with the help of light can you "bring it to life", create favorable conditions for plant growth and think about fish and water landscapes.

When lighting must comply with certain rules. The choice of equipment takes into account the needs of the inhabitants of the aquarium, and its size and shape do not play a key role here.

To enhance the beauty of the aquarium and its inhabitants, you need to calculate the intensity of the light.

The true direction of the rays will show the most interesting aspects of underwater life, and the right range of lights will make the aquarium attractive. The blue and red parts of the spectrum are poorly perceived by human eyes, and the sensations of the rays of the yellow and green zones are most pleasing to the eye. For lighting it is better to use full-color lamps. A sufficient flow of light is also needed: for a person, this is the amount of absorbed energy.

Consequences and causes of irregular light

Plant growth directly depends on the number of photons or active photosynthesis (PAR in English, which is present in the figure).

Lack of, or lack of, light in an aquarium causes the plant to wilt and lose its natural color to pale green or even yellow leaves. The stem will stretch, the distance between the leaves will increase, and the leaves will become smaller. If part of the stem of the same plant is placed closer to the light, the leaves will become larger and the internodes will be shortened.

A signal of insufficient brightness of the aquarium is the death of plants with brown and red leaves (this does not apply to Cryptocorynes).

Plants with thinner, longer stems are more likely to receive the excess red light that many artificial light sources provide. Fluorescent lamps that produce blue colors cause a short voltage. Such defects in the lighting of the aquarium lead to deviations in the growth and development of plants.

light and fish
Fish are no less sensitive to light. The normal light time in an aquarium is 12 hours, then 12 hours at night.

This photovoltaic value corresponds to most fish, allows them to be completely durable and positively affect all life processes, including reproduction. If they need light no less than plants, they react sharply to the absence of light.

When choosing a lamp, do not forget about its effect on the health and appearance of the fish: only in good light the fish will have a rich natural color.

Respect for the required duration and power of light is very important for the timely sexual maturation of fish, as well as for their reproduction. To get some types of fish, they need specially created lighting conditions.

The role of light in the life of fish can hardly be overestimated: it helps to look for "themselves among strangers" in order to find a sexual partner, discover food, hide from enemies, navigate in space, and adapt to the environment.

For some fish species, the light flux has a special effect.

Synodontics plays an important role in life. The physiology of the soma is regulated in such a way that the period of their activity is inseparable from the darkness of the day. Most characinids are found in a shaded area or in diffused light.

Poor lighting also activates predators because food is more available in the dark. This is due to the poor visual orientation of many fish in the dark. The quiet, plankton-eating people try to rest during this time, and their activity grows only in good light.

The aquarium with the Malawian Cyclides in the picture is a good example of bright lighting.

Interestingly, here on the pages Uses LED lighting, about what will be a separate conversation on akvamore.ru in the future.

Most of the fish are light. Depending on the mode of exposure in the natural environment, there are also shadow worshipers. Fish that have lived in abundance of sunlight (such as live toothbrushes or Donaciinae) never acquire the light of light into humble light.

But these types of fish can fully exist with an excess of light in the aquarium, which will not affect their color in any way.

What to do for Shadowfish

The location of fish whose ancestors lived in shaded tanks is quite different. A nocturnal or twilight lifestyle requires a reduction in the amount of light during close hours. If a plant-caring aquarium, too strong lamps are installed, this leads to inconvenience of existence and disruption of the natural rhythm of the fish that sets off.

Experienced owners warn that they have dirt separators, loss of clarity in structure and color intensity. Most of the time these fish will need to hide and not be pleased by aquarium spectators. Creating the most comfortable conditions for all the inhabitants of the aquarium requires the allocation of shaded areas. This can be helped by decorative elements, large stone construction, artificial grottoes, as well as plants. The number of such shelters should correspond to the number of fish.

In this aquarium, which imitates a volcanic biotope, diffused point light is organized.

There are shelters for shadow fish and good plant growth - bright areas.

In the absence of plants in the aquarium, it is enough to simply reduce the power of the bulbs while maintaining the duration of the lighting. The condition is more difficult with a deep aquarium or plants, i.e. when bright light is required. You need to accurately calculate the correct amount of light and find a solution that does not significantly violate the right to exist for fish and plants.

These are average flow parameters for aquarists.

1. Use the powerful light that plants need when choosing light-loving fish whose home is shallow, well-lit ponds. This option is suitable for those who keep the vegetation in the aquarium.
2. Fill aquarium plants that don't need a lot of light - they can co-exist with most fish.

   An excellent solution for aquariums "fish", in which the plants will not remain in sadness.

3. Create a "hedge" of tall plants that grow on or stretch across the surface - in their shade fish can hide from the light. Water birds can also be used for these purposes.
4. Cultivate in an aquarium and low plants and those that grow near the surface of the water. The fish themselves can choose the best living conditions in open space or in the shade of the leaves of tall plants.

   This decision extends to large quantities, as small aquariums do not allow you to create a full area.

5. Another solution for a large aquarium is to install directional lighting equipment so most of the light hits the plants.

   This coating provides an excellent base for forming an aquarium under a natural water body: in shaded areas, the ridge can be stained with oak, as if over wrapped roots that resemble the landscape of a river or lake.

A few words about lamps

All aquarists can be divided into lovers of bright and dark aquariums. First, strong lighting equipment (lamps) should be installed.

The latter is a light twilight and bright light to accurately see the fish. However, in addition to personal requirements, he should be guided by the purpose of the aquarium and the preferences of its inhabitants.

African cichlids dig and destroy plants, so they may not even be on a "bike". In this case, light is needed only for the convenience of the aquarist.

Too much lighting does not like the fish, it even harms them, which causes a stressful state. Therefore, you can place a lamp from any spectrum in this aquarium. They do not require special lumens calculation and artificial plants - they are suitable for ordinary bulbs equipped with an aquarium.

The choice of equipment for other fish and live plants must be taken more seriously.

To get rich, close to natural shades, color, install a full spectrum fish lamp (with a wide range of radiation colors) or TRICHROMATOGRAPHIC / triphosphate (triphosphate). In the following materials, we will consider the choice of lamps in more detail.

This photo shows the version of the aquarium without the lid.

used zetlight

Natural sunlight is also the possibility of illuminating the aquarium. However, it may not always be the only source that meets the needs of plants and animals. The problem with using natural light is that the brightness of the aquarium becomes dependent on its location.

But even the correct installation of the aquarium against the sun does not allow you to control the length of the light period and the intensity of the light output due to weather conditions or seasons.

The directed work of the sun's rays does not allow an even distribution of light across the water table: some areas of the aquarium may suffer from lack of light, while others from excess. Excess sunlight will cause active growth of algae, aquarium walls and plants will be redistributed, and light transmission will deteriorate. The amount of light can cause the water to "bloom" due to the reproduction of phytoplankton.

Along with lighting, the sun's rays heat the water, which often leads to the death of fish.

In summer and spring, the aquarium is best located near south, southeast, or southwest windows. In all other cases, additional lighting is required for the growth of ornamental plants.

It should be noted that direct sunlight can cause harm for a long time (more than two hours) belonging to the aquarium. You should also avoid placing containers in close proximity to radiators: sudden temperature fluctuations will adversely affect fish and plants. The best position is on the opposite side or side of the sun at the back of the room.

Good natural light will contribute to the beauty of the aquarium and its inhabitants.

aquarium lighting

Good lighting will help reveal the beauty of the underwater world. It is important for residents.
aquarium: the intensity and duration of daylight hours affect the growth and development of plants and fish. Unfortunately, not all aquarists pay due attention to this.

Lighting in the aquarium should not be made too bright - this can cause the rapid growth of microscopic plants.

It is recommended to set a certain period during which you will turn on the light for the aquarium. Usually it does not exceed 13 hours a day. For both plants and fish, it is necessary to alternate periods of darkness and light, just as it happens in nature. You can set up automatic lighting control: light-sensitive photocells will turn on the light only when it is needed.

It is important to remember that continuous lighting is detrimental to some species - it happens that the fish lose their ability to
multiply.

Care must be taken to ensure that the lighting is sufficient for all the inhabitants of the aquarium.

Most aquarium plants require a lot of bright light, but fish usually live in shady waters. Aquarists often think only about the needs of plants and install lamps that are too powerful. For fish, such lighting can cause discomfort, they will look for an opportunity to hide.

Under such conditions, over time, the bright color of some species may turn pale, become fuzzy. Sometimes a lot of lamps are installed in aquariums, even if there are no plants there - this is not at all desirable. If you also prefer to use several lamps, make sure that they have a low power.

The intensity of lighting should also depend on the depth of the aquarium. The greater the depth, the better it needs to be illuminated.

If there is not enough natural light in the room, more powerful lamps are selected for the aquarium.

The following data can be used for the calculation. For 1 dm2 of the bottom area of ​​the aquarium, 2 W is sufficient when using incandescent lamps and 0.7 W when using fluorescent lamps. With krypton lamps, it's a little more complicated.

For a depth of more than 40 cm per 1 liter of water in the aquarium, 1 W is needed, for a shallower depth, 0.75 W is enough.

For normal growth, aquatic plants need the entire spectrum of visible radiation. It is worth noting that each spectral range has its own role: long wavelengths of visible rays affect growth, short wavelengths affect the increase in plant mass and their flowering.

If artificial lighting with a limited range is used, algal growth or blooms can be caused.

Most often, fluorescent lamps or incandescent lamps are installed in aquariums.

The light of the latter is perfectly absorbed by plants. Incandescent lamps are distinguished by a pleasant light of yellow or orange tones. However, these lamps have a low coefficient of performance (COP), so even small aquariums will require high power to illuminate.

Incandescent lamps get very hot, so they should not be placed near the walls of the aquarium. It is recommended to place above the water surface at a low height - from 10 to 25 cm.

For deep aquariums, additional side lighting is needed, but incandescent lamps
are not suitable for this.

Aquarium lighting with LED lights

It should be noted that heating only the upper layers of water will lead to a large temperature difference at its surface and at the bottom of the aquarium. To avoid possible problems, it is necessary to install devices for mixing layers with different temperatures.

If fish from cold water reservoirs live in an aquarium, incandescent lamps cannot be used.

Instead, fluorescent ones are suitable. They are characterized by high efficiency and economy. For aquariums, white and warm white light bulbs are used (daylight bulbs are not suitable). Their spectral composition is similar to sunlight with a slight predominance of blue and red ranges. The number of lamps depends on the size of the aquarium in which they will be installed, and their power.

Like incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps are best installed from above.

They heat up much weaker than conventional ones, so it is permissible to put them closer to the sight glass. You can equip the lid of the aquarium with lighting.

Over time, lamps lose a significant percentage of their brightness. To return the lighting to its previous level, it is necessary to periodically replace them.

At the same time, you should remember or write down the date of installation of new lamps. Of course, you will have to change them when they burn out.

To enhance the power of lighting, the lamps are placed in reflectors - special reflectors,
which allow you to illuminate the farthest corners of the aquarium.

In order not to complicate the care of the aquarium, you can plant plants with low lighting requirements in it.

Then the fish will not experience stress due to bright light.

With the help of plants, you can create a shadow for the inhabitants of the aquarium. To do this, grow floating plants or with large leaves creeping along the surface of the water. To do this, it is important to prepare the soil in advance and give the plants the opportunity to take root. Most likely, it will take two to three months to prepare, but your pets will be able to hide in the shade.

The larger the aquarium, the more opportunities there are for aqua design.

In some areas, you can grow plants to provide shade, part of the place can be left open so that aquarium fish swim where they are comfortable. Another option is to focus bright lighting where there are more plants.

So the fish will have a choice between lighter and darker places. Shady corners can be decorated with bog oak snags - this way the design of the aquarium will look very impressive.

Considering the issue of lighting, do not forget about one important detail.

In nature, the sun never sets or rises instantly - there is a transitional period between light and darkness, and the light in an aquarium usually turns off immediately, leaving the fish in complete darkness. A sudden change in lighting can confuse the fish. If there are diurnal or nocturnal inhabitants in the aquarium, the sudden switching on or off of the electric light can frighten them, as they will not have time to hide in a safe place. For some species, the time of twilight is necessary to ensure the safety of their offspring.

So, for example, cichlids, whose main activity falls on the daytime, before dark gather their fry together and send them to a shelter to protect them from predators. And in some species, such as ancitruses, activity increases sharply with the onset of twilight. If sunlight enters the room during sunset and/or dawn, there is no need to artificially create twilight.

Otherwise, it will be enough to turn on the aquarium lighting 10-20 minutes after the usual one, and turn it off 10-20 minutes earlier. Fish quickly get used to artificial twilight.

In recent years, pet stores have significantly expanded the range of equipment designed specifically for aquariums.

On the one hand, a large selection allows you to purchase goods for every taste, but novice aquarists can easily make a mistake. Not everything that is sold in pet stores is really necessary.

Therefore, it is important to first understand what types of equipment exist and what they are for.

The functioning of any aquarium directly depends on the level of its illumination. When choosing the type of lighting for any aquarium, its depth, volume and type of tank, population are taken into account. The best option for hydrobionts are LED lamps, which make it easy to choose the required color mode, provide the most suitable conditions for plants and fish.

In this article:

Benefits of LED Lighting

LED lighting for an aquarium, unlike fluorescent lighting, has many advantages. LED lamp can be easily assembled with your own hands, it is characterized by economical consumption of electricity, while it is possible to adjust the spectrum and color temperature using special controllers.

Advantages of LED lighting include:

• a large selection of designs for luminaires;
• economical consumption of electricity;
• excellent performance and stability of the luminous flux, spectrum;
• environmental friendliness;
• excellent protection of the luminaire from mechanical influences, it is possible to install lamps that are resistant to splashing or getting wet.

Aquarium LED Lighting

It is impossible not to pay attention to the fact that LED panels and lamps for aquariums can be assembled by hand, while the cost of the finished product will be much less than the factory one.

The choice of LEDs for the aquarium

When choosing the type of luminaire, many parameters must be taken into account. This applies to the size of the aquarium, its type, requirements for luminous flux and how the lamps are placed. For work, you can use LED strips, spotlights or lamps, having calculated their power and quantity, taking into account the standards and requirements for organizing light for tanks of various types. For example, herbalists will need bright light for photosynthesis, and some fish require a daily change in light levels.

LED spotlights

When organizing the right lighting in an open aquarium, you can use LED spotlights. Such lamps give a very bright light, which easily reaches the bottom even in the deepest tanks. But for large Dutch aquariums, a minimum of two to three lights of 50 watts each is required. For conventional tanks of 100 liters, two 25 W spotlights are sufficient.

The color depends on the purpose of the lamp - white lamps are used for ordinary daylight, blue spotlights are used for night with imitation of moonlight. They should be positioned so that they evenly illuminate the entire container, leaving no dark corners.

LED lamps

The most common option for an aquarium are LED lamps. They are suitable for small aquariums up to 50 litres, providing the bright, stable light required by fish and plants. For large containers, it is better to choose large panels with several lamps, suspension systems or fixtures mounted on brackets.

Manufacturers offer various options for such lamps, the most famous are the systems from Aqualighter, designed for saltwater or freshwater aquariums. These are multifunctional models with the ability to change the color temperature, daily color change, preset modes. Such systems can be taken as the basis for designing your own lighting system.

LED strips

Not so long ago, LED strip lighting was used only for small aquariums, but today a similar method is also suitable for large tanks with a capacity of 200 liters or more. But when choosing, preference should be given to tapes with high power, for example, SMD 3528 is not suitable for a large aquarium. It is better to give preference to SMD 5050, SMD 5730 and others with 18 lm radiation for each diode. But when planning your own production of a lamp, you should immediately prefer a cooling system.

Features of the choice of lighting

When choosing lighting for aquariums, it is important to consider the following parameters:

• the content of the container, the type of inhabitants and plants in the aquarium;
• taking into account standard parameters (the minimum value is 0.5 W per liter);
• choice of LED lamp (ready-made or self-assembled "from scratch");
• design, which depends on the dimensions and depth of the tank (spotlights, rulers, lamps on brackets or suspensions);
• a set of equipment (lighting controllers, timers, controllers for daily color and spectrum changes);
• features of operation (protected from moisture or normal splashes).

LED light with air diffuser

On sale there is a large selection of ready-made lamps of well-known brands. When buying, it is recommended to give preference to them, since cheap Chinese ones do not always meet the stated requirements, and this can lead to illness of the inhabitants of the aquarium and overgrowth of its walls with algae.

Features of calculating a lamp for an aquarium

When calculating the level of illumination for an aquarium, it is necessary to take into account the accepted standards and features of the tanks. It is generally accepted that 0.5 watts of power and 40 lm of luminous flux brightness are required per liter of water. But for aquariums of various types, these indicators may vary, for example, for very deep tanks, the parameters are multiplied by 2.

For herbalists with rare plants and for Dutch aquariums, it is necessary to provide a luminous flux of 60 lm or more at 0.8-1 watt per liter. When planning lighting for elongated, deep aquariums, the standards may be different. In any case, the choice of a lamp must be approached individually.

LED lamp for aquarium Collar AquaLighter 2 22 W

It should be remembered that for every 10 cm of depth, the level of light flux decreases by at least 50%. Plant species, oxygen requirements and many other parameters are taken into account. It is important to remember that photosynthesis for plants goes into saturation only at a light level of 400 umol / (m2 * s), that is, the light must be intense. An important factor is the presence of ground cover plants, anubias and others.

We collect the lamp with our own hands

When installing a lighting system for an aquarium with plants, you must immediately decide on the option of the lamp. The most popular and simplest is the use of LED strips, for example, for a standard 100L aquarium, a five-meter strip with SMD 5050 diodes with a power of 0.2 W is enough.

The tape is attached to the lid of the aquarium in the form of a snake, while the direction may be different, but it is very important to observe the same density of LEDs. It is necessary to fix the lamp with silicone glue, the starting device and the power supply must be placed only on the outside in order to ensure proper heat exchange and prevent moisture from entering them.

The second method is more difficult, it requires certain skills, but the result is worth it. To do this, instead of a standard cover, a diamond-shaped or rectangular lamp is arranged above the aquarium, providing lighting with a brightness of 10,000 lm and a power of 120 watts. Such a lamp is quite enough for an aquarium with a volume of 200-300 liters.

The technical characteristics of such a lamp will be in no way inferior to ready-made factory ones, but their cost will be much lower. For assembly, you will need about 40 LED lamps of 3 W each, the color is white, blue, red, you need to be careful with green, as it can provoke an accelerated growth of algae. It would be wrong to exclude green diodes altogether, but constant control of the balance is required to exclude the growth of an unfavorable environment.

Lamas are best taken from foreign-made brands such as Osram and Philips, although Era, Feron, Gauss are also great. To assemble a lamp for an aquarium with a volume of 200-300 liters, you will need:

• LED strip, LED lamps;
• a plastic gutter with a length of 2 meters and a width of 10 cm (the length will depend on the dimensions of the aquarium itself);
• 12 V power supply, it is possible to connect lighting to a desktop computer;
• wire with a cross section of 1.5 mm;
• air conditioning for 6-12 V;
• connectors for lamps (40 pieces, according to the number of lamps, connectors are not needed for the tape);
• tool for cutting holes 48 mm.

Lighting for an aquarium from LED strip

You need to start by preparing the base - two gutters and holes are cut in a plastic structure in a checkerboard pattern. LEDs will be inserted into these holes, which are very important to securely fasten. All lamps are connected with a soft wire, after which they are connected to the power supply. The fan is placed on the heated area from the outside of the structure.

If only white lamps are used for the lamp, then the tape must be taken blue to imitate moonlight. it is mounted on the rear wall, it can only be turned on at night or in combination with white light, providing coverage of the required spectrum.

In general, when calculating LED lamps, you need to focus on the following indicators - 0.5 W per liter of water, if the aquarium is very deep, then a 1 W lamp is taken per liter. The purpose of the aquarium is also taken into account, for example, a herbalist needs bright, good lighting, without which photosynthesis will simply be impossible.

In addition, when choosing lighting, one must take into account the spectrum and color temperature. For plants and aquarium inhabitants of different species, they can be completely different. The level of illumination should be uniform, a daily change in light is necessary to ensure the health of your pets.

Conclusion

LED lamps for aquariums are gradually replacing fluorescent lamps as more economical and efficient. Their service life is much longer, and energy consumption is lower, it is also possible to independently install various types of lamps.

An aquarium is one of the most impressive and striking decorations of every interior. Unfortunately, it cannot do without additional illumination. This is due to the fact that daylight for its inhabitants is simply not enough, even if the aquarium is placed by 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 lighting for the aquarium with your own hands, so that it fits perfectly with your aquatic pets and harmoniously fits into the overall interior.

Why is light needed?

According to the laws of nature, its own ecosystem is formed in the water column, which is based on a 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, plants process. 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 multiplying.

Important! Pay attention to the fact that green and purple aquatic plants in the aquarium do not absorb the entire spectrum, but part of the range.

In order to make a lamp for an aquarium with your own hands, it should be borne in mind that different types of lamps emit a different spectral range. That is why very often their combination is used for additional lighting of the aquarium, and not separately.

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

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

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

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

If, after installing additional lighting, after 2-3 months, 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 purely for decorative purposes. Unfortunately, such lighting is not recommended to be turned on frequently, as it negatively affects plant photosynthesis and depresses fish.

How to calculate lighting power?

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

• The standard is the total power of all LED lamps of 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 a more accurate determination of the number of lamps, there are rather complex calculation formulas. For example, an aquarium with a volume of 200 liters will need an LED strip with a number of paws of 30 pieces or individual spot LEDs of about 25-40 pieces and a power of 3 watts.
• In practice, the most correct ratio is 0.5 W per 1 liter of water. But it, unfortunately, is 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 lit evenly and to the very bottom.

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

Choosing fixtures for aquarium lighting

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

Halogen lamps

They are quite economical, shine brightly, while emitting little heat. Such lamps are made on the basis of mercury, so they are rarely used for lighting aquariums. But as an alternative to incandescent lamps, halogen ones will be quite appropriate.

Ordinary 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 leaves, under such lighting they gradually become smaller and turn pale.

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

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

Fluorescent

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 standard proportion of 0.5 W / liter is enough for the aquarium, and several additional bulbs are 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, while not heating the water. DIY aquarium LED light is easy. Scattering will be more uniform, due to which the lamps do not harm plants and do not cause discomfort to fish.

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

LED Strip Light

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

How to install aquarium lighting?

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

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 does not disturb the fish and other aquatic inhabitants.

To optimize the consumption of electricity, 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 lighting.

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

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

Method number 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 fix the white LED strip around the perimeter. Due to this, you will get an optimal spectrum and uniform illumination.

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

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

Method number 2

It consists in collecting 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 watts is considered sufficient power. This assumes 40 spot LEDs of 3W each at 270 lumens. As a result, you will get quite bright and full lighting.

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

For self-assembly of this backlight, you will need the following materials and tools:

• A set of LED lamps;
• Gutter 100 mm wide plastic;
• Power supply 12 Volt;

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

• Soft wire with a diameter of 1.5 mm;
• 6 computer coolers;
• 40 pieces of 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 with a frequency of 1 meter 20 pieces.
3. Insert LED lamps into the prepared holes, fix them.
4. Connect all 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 with proper care, which includes well-installed lighting. By putting into practice the advice of our experts, you will be able to correctly calculate the required number of lighting fixtures and their power, and your small home pond will become not only the main highlight of the interior, but also a favorite place for the whole family to gather.

Properly selected lighting for the aquarium will be the key to the rapid growth of plants and the good life of aquarium inhabitants. Several different aquarium lighting methods are currently in use, including using energy-saving lamps, diodes, and metal halide technologies. You can make high-quality lighting with your own hands or purchase ready-made kits for aquariums of various sizes.

Environmentally friendly LED lighting does not contain harmful chemicals like fluorescent lamps

Why do you need lighting

Aquarium fish and grown plants cannot exist without sunlight or artificial light. Aquatic flora with high-quality lighting is actively involved in the process of photosynthesis: it absorbs carbon dioxide, nitrates and nitrites, while saturating the water with life-giving oxygen.

Light is required by fish and other aquatic organisms. It allows them to observe the daily regime of wakefulness and falling asleep. It is necessary not only to choose the right lighting power, but also its duration. The latter factor will be especially important for plants, as it prevents the growth of unwanted algae.

Without proper lighting in the aquarium, only plastic artificial plants can be planted, the appearance of which is far from ideal. But if you want to create a real underwater garden in the aquarium with beautiful plants and bright tropical fish, then you cannot do without high-quality light.

Until recently, the choice of aquarists was significantly limited. They could only use standard incandescent lamps, which were not very suitable for this purpose, as well as fluorescent lighting, which somewhat reduced the cost of electricity, allowing them to choose the best spectrum for fish and plants. Today, the range of lighting fixtures for the aquarium has expanded significantly.

The main facts to be guided by when choosing a backlight:

1. Optimal solution - halogen light sources, which are both economical, have a wide range of illumination, contain a minimum of mercury and are easy to use.
2. Incandescent lamps small power can also be used to illuminate the aquarium. This light has a yellow tint, which allows you to emphasize the beauty of bright tropical fish. However, incandescent lamps still have disadvantages. First of all, this is an increased consumption of electricity, provoking the growth of algae, as well as significant heating, which leads to overheating of the entire aquarium.
3. Fluorescent lamps They are distinguished by economy, efficiency, and a wide variety of spectra.
4. LEDs is an economical modern technology that allows you to reduce energy consumption by providing intense directional or diffused lighting. Thanks to the use of various controllers, it is possible to fully automate LED lamps: they will turn on and off according to a predetermined schedule.

The most popular today are fluorescent and LED lamps. At the same time, they are economical, allow you to get color with any shade and spectrum, perfectly illuminate both small aquariums and containers with a volume of several tons. The only drawback of LED lamps and the controllers necessary for their operation is the high cost of the components used. The latter somewhat limits their distribution in the domestic market.

Blue lamps 430 - 460 nm will give a realistic beauty to the aquarium. Blue light can speed up the growth of marine life

Correct power calculation

It is often difficult for novice aquarists to calculate the required light output for a specific aquarium volume. In the past, when fluorescent lamps were the most popular, it was much easier to calculate the required lighting power. The minimum indicator was the level of 0.50 W per liter of volume. Accordingly, a 10-watt lamp was enough for a 20-liter aquarium. For light-loving plants and with an increased height of the glass container, the power could be 0.7–1 W per liter.

But with the advent of LED lamps, the calculation became much more complicated. Here it is necessary to take into account not only the consumption of electricity by one LED, but also its power in lumens and other characteristics. Most experts recommend using LEDs at 0.2 watts per liter of aquarium capacity for aquarium lighting. Accordingly, for a volume of 200 liters, about 40 pieces of such small diodes will be required.

Optimal spectrum:

• for bottom fish - 3000−6000 Lux;
• for the maintenance of flora and fauna - 6000−10000 Lux;
• for light-loving plants and aquascaping - 10000−15000 Lux.

Experienced aquarists choose the lighting power they need empirically. Here it is necessary to take into account not only the requirements of the grown plants (some may feel good in the shade or in bright light), but also the presence of fertilizers in the water, the length of daylight hours. The higher the water column, the more powerful the lighting should be.

If the plants and walls of the aquarium are abundantly covered with a brown coating, this indicates excessive lighting power and a long daylight hours. But if the plants look lifeless, weak and faded, then you should simultaneously start the supply of carbon dioxide, fertilize the water on a regular basis and increase the intensity of the lighting.

LED aquarium lighting is expensive, but conventional LED bulbs last up to 50,000 hours, and are cheaper in the long run.

DIY backlighting

Despite the apparent complexity, making your own aquarium lighting with LEDs is not difficult. It is possible to use both fluorescent lamps and the cover with built-in LEDs. In each case, the choice will depend on the volume of the aquarium, the required intensity and power of light, as well as the financial capabilities of the aquarist.

Use of fluorescent lamps

The easiest way to make effective and inexpensive lighting based on fluorescent lamps. All that is required in this case is sealed cartridges (two for each lamp), an electric starter, or a ballast, high-quality power wires. It is not recommended to take ordinary cartridges that are not protected from water, since increased humidity forms under the cover, which leads to oxidation of the contacts and a possible short circuit.

The electrical circuit of such lighting is standard. From the outlet, a cable is led to the electric starting device. Wires from pressure cartridges are connected to the device in the corresponding outputs. A simplified connection diagram will be applied to the body of the electric starting device, in accordance with which fluorescent lighting should be assembled. To increase the efficiency of such lighting, you can use diffusers located above the lamps and made of polished metal or kitchen foil.

LED strips

On sale you can find ready-made LED lamps and strips, which are the easiest option for creating high-quality lighting in an aquarium. Thanks to the use of modern technologies, such lamps are distinguished by the maximum possible efficiency: with their compact dimensions, they illuminate the aquarium well, emit a minimum of heat and can be easily installed in standard seats of used lamps.

You can choose different options for LED lighting for the aquarium, which will differ in their power, spectrum, and a number of other characteristics. Such lamps are especially popular with novice aquarists, who have the opportunity to use the latest advances in the production of lighting technology.

In order for the aquarium to function properly, it is necessary to regulate the number of daylight hours, and create uniform lighting in the reservoir for each inhabitant.

Automated LED luminaires

Every year, the popularity of led lighting for the aquarium is steadily increasing, which is explained by the functionality of such light, power, economy and the ability to easily select the spectrum necessary for the aquarist. On sale there are LEDs of various powers and shades, as well as the simplest automatic controllers necessary for controlling electricity. Making your own LED aquarium lamps is not difficult.

In specialized pet stores, you can find ready-made lamps or LED strips designed specifically for the aquarium. The largest manufacturers of such lighting are the following companies:

• Dennerle;
• Sulfur;
• Yuvel;
• Hagen;
• Aquael;
• Aquamedic.

The LED strip must be fixed with silicone waterproof adhesive on the lid of the aquarium in a serpentine or cross pattern, positioned in such a way as to ensure a uniform density of LEDs. A power supply and a starting device are connected to the LED strip. In the event that a power supply and a starting device are not included with the tape, then it can be purchased additionally or made from an old computer power supply.

If you plan to use the controller, then it is connected between the power supply and the LED strip. The controller used allows you to smoothly increase and decrease lighting, simulating sunrise and sunset; it is possible to turn on various LEDs that allow you to change the spectrum of lighting depending on the time of day. Controllers for LED lights are most widely used in marine aquaria, where it is necessary to maintain a daily routine.

By choosing the right LED aquarium lighting, you can create optimal living conditions for aquatic organisms and grow a beautiful plant garden. For the aquarium, fluorescent and metal halide lamps, as well as LED elements, are suitable, which can significantly reduce electricity consumption by optimally controlling the intensity, power and duration of lighting.

The aquarium has long been a decoration of the interiors of apartments. Most often you can find large aquariums with a capacity of 100 liters or more. However, some people prefer nano-aquariums. In this case, unexpected objects such as vases and glasses are used to keep aquatic organisms. There are even aquariums... in a light bulb. We offer to make such an aquarium yourself.

From the materials we need an incandescent lamp, fine-grained aquarium soil and a small aquatic plant.

First, separate the base from the bulb bulb. This can be done with a hammer, tapping it on all sides of the base. Just do not apply excessive force - the lamp may break.

After removing the base, remove unnecessary glass parts from the flask. File the edges of the hole in the flask with a file if they are too sharp.

Rinse the flask and fill it with aquarium soil. Then plant an aquarium plant in it and fill the lamp with water. Finally, put on a plinth. The resulting aquarium can be placed on a stand or hung if the base is well kept on the flask.

Of course, in such an "aquarium" it will not work to keep fish. But with the help of it you can surprise your friends and acquaintances. Also, an aquarium in a light bulb can be an original gift.