Aquarium Lighting
We humans need light. It governs our life cycle, when it’s dark we sleep, when it’s light we go about our business. We light our offices, factories and homes. Our streets are lit so that if we do go out in the dark we are able to see.
In the period of humankind’s dawn we would huddle in caves away from the dangers of the night. Dark was feared and it is understandable that in later periods of history the sun was worshipped as a god.
As already said we now use technology to generate light and are able to even use light for special reasons such as mood lighting and spotlights.
Our technology has given us the opportunity to keep life forms in what is to them an alien environment. The marine aquarium is just such a case – life is taken from the wild reefs and placed in a very restricted space and to many it is a miracle that they survive at all. They come from the oceans and seas where the seawater is measured in cubic miles and go to a home marine aquarium, perhaps a large one, where there could be three hundred gallons of seawater. Most home aquariums are considerably smaller than that.
So how is this ‘miracle’ achieved? Some essential services necessary for survival are provided by Mother Nature and technology provides additional support.
The early aquarists didn’t have the technology available as it is now. It was a battle to keep livestock alive for any length of time, now it is the opposite provided aquarium husbandry is up to standard.
As with humans, marine life is controlled by the light and dark cycle. Some life is more secure in the dark being less likely to suffer predation. Other life is just the opposite and makes use of light, hiding away when darkness approaches.
The trend in the marine hobby nowadays is to create as ‘natural’ an aquarium as possible and this includes lighting. Aquarists attempt to duplicate the reef habitat as far as possible. The different types of marine aquarium should all do this. Of course creating a complete mirror of a wild reef, or at least part of it, is likely never to be achieved as there is just too much diversity. However, a successful home marine aquarium can be achieved, looking reasonably natural and the life contained healthy and happy.
So how does the aquarist supply ‘natural’ lighting? One answer could be to place the aquarium where sunlight would strike it for the ‘proper’ part of the day. The sun is what lights the wild reefs after all. There are dangers and problems in this though and it is not done. What about getting two or maybe three electric light bulbs of the household type and hanging them above the aquarium? Again, this is obviously light and it can be made to provide night and day periods. However, there would be serious problems with this method. The aquarist would most likely have to combat unwanted invasions by Mother Nature; she is always ready to exploit a suitable situation. There are other potential problems too, and even dangers.
So what can be done then? The aquarist has to be aware of needs and requirements in two ways; the first is (and always is) for the livestock and the second for the aquarist. There are different types of marine aquarium and they all require adequate and correct lighting. Lighting that can be controlled to provide ‘day’ and ‘night’, and will enhance the beautiful colours the marine aquarium is capable of showing. ‘Day’ and ‘night’ is primarily for the livestock, the beautiful colours are primarily for the aquarist. With some marine aquarium types it is essential for the well being of the livestock, in fact even their lives, to provide the correct lighting.
Lighting is a complicated subject and, as with other things, the marine aquarist does not have to have knowledge of the subject in depth as does a scientist or engineer. However, to get the most out of any type of marine aquarium there needs to be a basic understanding of the requirements of the livestock and the methods that could be used to enhance the appearance of the aquarium.
In the seas and oceans the sun provides all the necessary light. The sun is very powerful and there isn’t any way that equivalent power can be applied to the relative surface area of the aquarium. However, sunlight hitting the sea has aspects to it that can be made use of and it is necessary to be aware of how this is done. Despite the fact that the power of the sun cannot be duplicated by our lighting technology, it is very necessary to apply sufficient power to ensure adequate lighting of some of the residents of the aquarium. Failure to do so with these life forms will mean just that, failure. There are guidelines for the power that needs to be applied for the different types and sizes of aquarium.
Once the lighting has been decided how is it fitted? Should it just be hung above the aquarium? There are guidelines for fitting lighting and these are not just applicable for obtaining adequate lighting but personal safety too.
The ‘day’ and ‘night’ periods have been mentioned already. How are these periods applied and controlled? Does the aquarist turn off the lights when bedtime arrives and turn them on again at breakfast? Should the lighting be on at different periods? Is there a way of providing a ‘dawn’ and ‘dusk’ period, as would happen in the wild? There are guidelines for lighting periods for all types of aquarium which suit the livestock well, and there are ways of simulating ‘dawn’ and ‘dusk’. The aquarist should be aware of all the lighting possibilities.
Lighting is very near the top of the list in importance for some types of aquarium. A ‘couple of bulbs’ will not do. Further, with some types of aquarium even lighting designed for the job could be inadequate if it is not selected properly. Correct lighting selection and application will greatly enhance the chance of success, with healthy colourful livestock and enhanced viewing pleasure for the aquarist.
If you are interested in purchasing lighting related items then we recommend either using your local fish shop or on online aquarium store like Drs Foster Smith or That Fish Place.
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