▷ Fluorescent tubes in the aquarium | All info

Suitable fluorescent tubes for the aquarium

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Three-band lamps and full-spectrum lamps are recommended for aquaristics.

The corresponding fluorescent lamps from the aquarium trade have no advantage over the cheaper variants from hardware stores or electronics retailers.

Some special lengths, e.g. B. for 240 liter aquariums, are more readily available in the aquarium trade than in DIY stores or in specialist shops.

In three-band lamps, the phosphor converts the UV radiation in three narrowly defined spectral ranges, the so-called bands, into visible light. Due to the narrow limitation, the energy is converted effectively. The luminous efficacy of three-band lamps is therefore higher than that of all other fluorescent lamps.

The color rendering of three-band lamps is still quite good. They are assigned to color rendering level 1b, ie very good, according to DIN 5035.

The phosphors of full-spectrum lamps emit light in more numerous and broader bands. This light therefore comes closer to natural light than the light from other fluorescent lamps. Full spectrum lamps are z. B. used when difficult color comparison tasks have to be carried out. Full-spectrum lamps are classified in color rendering level 1a, ie also very good”. However, the balanced spectrum is paid for with a lower light output.

The luminous flux, measured in lumens, and the illuminance, which is measured in lux, are of interest for aquaristics. Luminous flux is the light energy that a lamp emits. When the luminous flux falls on a surface, it evokes a certain level of illuminance.

Of all fluorescent lamps, three-band lamps have the highest light output. They have the strongest light, so to speak. 1 watt of power is converted into a luminous flux of over 90 lumens. A radiant power of around 0.3 watts is emitted in the visible range. Fluorescent lamps with standard dyes achieve 70 lumens and 0.2 watts.

Three-band lamps are inexpensive and have a long service life. They have the best price/performance ratio of all the lamps commonly used in aquaristics.

Aquarium manufacturers sometimes advertise that their lamps prevent algae. However, algae have similar needs as aquarium plants, especially higher green algae. That’s why there are no lamps that promote plants and suppress algae at the same time. Even if some manufacturers claim this. Even the algae holes advertised by manufacturers are nothing more than gaps in the light spectrum that all modern three-band lamps have. These algae holes also have inexpensive tubes from the hardware store.

Another explanation often given as to why such tubes can help prevent algae is that the spectrum of these lamps is not too different from the spectrum of daylight.

However, algae do not only develop in aquariums that receive daylight. The light spectrum therefore does not play a decisive role.

The fact that lighting with three-band lamps may produce more algae could be because three-band lamps have a higher photosynthesis light yield than full-spectrum lamps. Full-spectrum tubes simply produce less light than three-band tubes of the same wattage.

The color temperatures of natural lighting normally range from 3000 K (morning and evening sun) to 5500 K (midday sun) and up to 15000 K (very strong solar radiation). Commercial three-band lamps with 30 watts have a light output of approx. 2350 lumens.

The quality of aquarium lamps can be evaluated using these orientation values. Lamps with strongly deviating color temperatures or lower luminous efficacy are less recommended.

Tri-band lamps are optimized for the part of the light spectrum that people perceive best. This is the green-yellow area. For some aquarists, three-band lamps in the warm tone range appear too yellow in the aquarium. With full-spectrum lamps, the green-yellow area is not as pronounced. Full-spectrum lamps therefore appear darker and less yellow.

The lumen specification for fluorescent tubes is based on the green-yellow area. Lumen is a unit of measurement based on human vision. The lumen specification is unimportant for plants because the blue and red spectral range is weighted significantly less than the green-yellow range.

For plants, the blue and red spectral range is of greater importance. In these two areas, three-band lamps and full-spectrum lamps differ only slightly.

Fluorescent tubes with different wattages have different lengths and require a ballast that is adapted to the respective output. Therefore, tubes with different wattages cannot simply be installed in aquarium covers.

The order in which different tubes are attached

If different fluorescent tubes are used in one cover, it is a matter of taste which tube is installed at the front and which tube is installed at the back. A mixed light arrives on the ground near the plants.

The tubes should be attached in such a way that the fish look as natural as possible. A greater depth effect results when more bluish light colors are placed in front of more red light colors.

How to clean fluorescent tubes

Many lighting boxes are not sealed at the bottom with a pane of glass. Reflectors and fluorescent tubes therefore become dirty over time. A layer of lime forms as a result of evaporated water.

Since the luminous flux usually decreases more due to dirt than due to the aging of the lamp, tubes and reflectors should be cleaned from time to time.

To do this, a cloth is moistened with a few drops of vinegar, washing-up liquid or limescale remover and the tubes are rubbed with it. For safety reasons, the ends of the tubes should not be completely wet.

The tubes are easiest to clean when they are removed from the socket. With a little dexterity, built-in tubes can also be cleaned well. In any case, the tubes should cool down before cleaning.

Which light colors are suitable

Three-digit numbers are used to identify fluorescent tubes. Three-band lamps can be recognized by the 8, full-spectrum lamps by the 9 in the first place. The other two digits indicate the hue.

three-band lamps:

Full Spectrum Lamps:

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In order to give a good visual impression, you can combine 2 light colors. With three-band lamps z. B. happy to combine 830 and 860. Instead, 2 tubes 840 can be used. If the aquarium only has one tube, 840 can also be used.

Full spectrum lamps such as B. JBL Solar Tropic produce a good and neutral light, in which fish and plants come into their own.

As an alternative to the lamps from the aquarium trade, lamps with 900 light color designations can be used from the electronics trade, e.g. B. 940 and 950 or only 950. Another example is a combination of the full spectrum tubes Osram Lumilux de Luxe 32/930 (warm) and 12/950 (daylight).

Three-band lamps are more economical than full-spectrum lamps. The spectral range that can be used for plants is also z. B. with Osram 8 tubes a little better. On the other hand, three-band lamps are often perceived as having a yellowish cast.

The luminous intensity of full-spectrum lamps and plant lamps is about 1/3 lower than that of three-band lamps. Depending on the aquarium and the plants being cared for, this must be taken into account when choosing the lamp.

For a 112 liter aquarium with plants that need light, e.g. B. 18 Watt 840 fluorescent tubes suitable. An alternative would be 2 940 lamps, e.g. B. from Osram and an additional plant lamp z. from JBL. To save electricity, the lamps can be operated with an electronic ballast, or electronic ballasts with 4 x 18 watts are used.

Does moisture damage the fluorescent tubes?

Modern covers often do not have a glass pane to separate the fluorescent tubes from the water. Because the aquarium water is warmer than the air in the room, water evaporates and condenses on the cover and the fluorescent tube.

Nevertheless, no damage is to be feared. Usually with these covers, the lamp sockets have gaskets where the tube terminals are. Other electrical components such. B. starters are protected by seals or installed in a splash-proof area.