Marine Aquarium Lighting

An aquarium, whether a large tank at home or a more professional operation, is a labor of love for most people. From the amount of time put in to the care of the fish, a great deal of pride and consideration goes into choosing the right solutions. When it comes to large-scale temperature control lighting for marine aquariums, the need for proper solutions is paramount. If the water becomes too warm, delicate ecosystems such as plants and fish may perish as a result. Here are a few things you need to know about large-scale temperature control lighting for marine aquariums.

Since the main contributor to heat is found in lighting solutions, it is important to consider the heat output of a lamp, especially when you factor in that many aquariums operate several lights at once. While you won’t be able to eliminate all sources of heat from lighting, you can certainly reduce them drastically with a little effort.

1. Operate lights in sections instead of all at once

If your tank has several lights in place, consider creating a lighting schedule instead of running them all at once. Creating a schedule where only some lights are operating at a time will help to reduce the overall temperature of the water.

2. Choose LED lights over fluorescent

There is no denying that LED is the better option for aquarium lighting over fluorescent. Fluorescent bulbs create more heat whereas LED uses all of its energy to convert it to lighting so no heat is lost.

3. Closely monitor any changes in temperature caused by the operation of lights

Whether a residential or professional aquarium, it is important to monitor the matter of water temperature for the sake of the biosphere living inside. There are thermometers which can be placed at key locations on the tank to help you easily check the temperature at any time. A good way to gauge the effects your lights are having on the temperature is to leave them off and take a temp, and then turn the lights on for a specified time frame and record another temperature. If you find the temperature increase is drastic with the operation of the lighting solutions, you need to evaluate the type of lamps you are using in the tank.

4. Install chillers

While the easiest way to adjust temperature is to change the light bulbs to options which emit less heat, you can also install a chiller to the tank. This device will help to regulate the water temperature without the need to change lights. This is especially effective if you have found a particular color solution that meets your needs in every way except the heat aspect. This device allows you to keep your preferred lights without harming the fish for the ultimate in temperature control for large-scale aquariums.