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Like all other animals, fish also need a regulated day-night rhythm. Fish sleep, although usually very inconspicuously. From this point of view, perfectly coordinated phases of light and dark are extremely important for the fish in the aquarium. Fish keepers can work with different light sources in order to best simulate the different lighting conditions. In the case of timers for aquariums, it is important to bear in mind that the light can be switched on and off successively when regulating the day-night rhythm. This process should never happen suddenly.
Recommended division of the light and dark phases in the aquarium
In order to achieve an ideal lighting phase with the support of a timer, the fish home should be fully illuminated for ten to twelve hours a day. This ensures that the fish and plants in the aquarium can experience an optimal supply of light. Algae growth, on the other hand, is only stimulated when the lighting phase is extended. In the morning, the light in the aquarium should not be turned up to full power immediately. It should also be avoided in the evening that it suddenly gets dark. In nature, it also gets darker gradually and not suddenly. The timer can do the act of brightening and dimming. So that this effect can also be achieved ideally, several fluorescent tubes are sometimes required in the aquarium.
The function of a timer
The lighting is already installed and functional in most complete solutions or aquarium sets. The plants and fish adjust their waking and sleeping rhythm solely to the lighting time. The light has a very special meaning for the aquarium inhabitants. In the small biotope «aquarium» it is therefore advisable to regulate the decisive switching intervals with a timer. The timer, which has to regulate the day and night rhythm of the aquarium occupants, ensures that there are no sudden changes in light. This is a decisive advantage that speaks for a well-functioning timer. By slowly simulating sunrise and sunset, the fish and plants succeed in adapting to their biorhythms.
Artificial light is needed in the aquarium for several reasons
If it is a freshwater aquarium, the light supplies the plants with the energy they need for photosynthesis and growth. The plants in the fish kingdom provide oxygen and detoxify the water. The aquarium owner should definitely keep an eye on the light requirements of the respective fish. Automated aquarium lighting only makes sense if it also meets the lighting needs of the entire fish population in the aquarium. The light should always burn long enough to ensure that the day-night rhythm is correctly observed. The plants and fish need a certain period of light, only then are the creatures in the aquarium able to use the light ideally and sufficiently. The timer takes on the task of ensuring that the aquarium lighting is on and off at the same time every day, if possible.
The light in an aquarium is a complex physical phenomenon
The beauty of the underwater world in an aquarium is only guaranteed or can only unfold in all its splendor if the necessary light is supplied. In order for the fish keeper to be able to observe and fully enjoy the hustle and bustle of his animals in the aquarium, the light-dark phase or the day-night rhythm must exist in the aquarium. The lighting in a small and artificially created biotope must be optimally adjusted.
The aquarium technology and its control
The daily light dose can be adjusted by automated aquarium lighting. The timer prevents the lighting phases from varying too much. The use of a perfectly functioning timer is worthwhile, as this can guarantee constant and regular lighting in the aquarium. The fish keeper is no longer required to permanently switch the lighting on and off manually. With an automatically controlled timer, the lighting phases can be planned precisely and thus a significant over- or under-lighting in the fish kingdom can be avoided.
Timers are useful
Nowadays, more and more important processes are technically controlled in the aquarium. In addition to the lighting regulation, this includes above all the CO2 systems, the UV clarifiers, the flow pumps and the sprinkler systems. If these processes are properly controlled via a timer, this is very helpful and sensible for the aquarium owner at the same time.
What type of timer should you choose?
Mechanical and digital timers are available commercially or on the market. Both types are equally suitable for aquaristics. The advantages and disadvantages of mechanically controlled timers are:
- The very cheap price.
- A very simple operation.
- The power consumption is extremely low.
- Often only a single daily program can be defined with the mechanical timer.
- Unfortunately, the circuit is often inaccurate.
The pros and cons of a digitally controlled timer are:
- Annual or weekly programs can be implemented with the digital timer.
- In the vast majority of cases, precise switching is possible.
- Programming and operation are much more complex.
- The power consumption is quite high.
- The digital timers are much more expensive compared to the mechanical timers.
outlook
It is important for every fish keeper that the plants and fish in the aquarium are doing well. The lighting and the correct observance of the light-dark cycle are specifically responsible for this. The inhabitants of an aquarium depend on constant and regular lighting. The daily light supply required is almost always between nine and twelve hours. To ensure that everything works, the aquarist needs help: The timer takes over this delicate task and ensures an optimal change from light to dark and vice versa. In many households, easy-to-program and inexpensive analogue timers are sufficient for this.
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