One of the things I'm studying at the moment is lighting technology for the planted aquarium hobby. When I started, the creme-de-la-creme was metal halide lighting. Dupla has the coolest around. Most of us mere mortals had to make due with fluorescents (and, no, it wasn't the T5s you have now).
Today we seem to be divided by the T5 devotees and those that prefer the tech-forward LEDs. There is no doubt we're in a much better space when it comes to lighting. What's more, today lighting is relatively cheap with lower-cost fixtures producing decent results. After all, most light will grow plants, is the often said comment.
Well, that may be but that's not what this thread is about. I want to get into some of the science and theory behind lighting for a planted aquarium in the hopes that we can come up with objective criteria that we can then apply to fixtures when shopping for lighting. This will allow us to compare different brands and see if any additional cost is worth the difference. Let's be educated consumers in our hobby.
So, first things first. I contacted several light manufacturers and asked if they had any reports or studies that they could share with me about proper lighting for a planted aquarium or aquatic plants in general. Every one told me no. I then asked my friend Balazs from Green Aqua who also told me he didn't know of anyone who was actively studying this subject. Frustrating.
I realize some of this has been brought up in various sites that are scattered across the Internet. Let's focus our discussion here on the latest thinking. If you know of any relevant data, please post it here.
Let's start this journey by establishing the criteria needed to judge lights.
Today we seem to be divided by the T5 devotees and those that prefer the tech-forward LEDs. There is no doubt we're in a much better space when it comes to lighting. What's more, today lighting is relatively cheap with lower-cost fixtures producing decent results. After all, most light will grow plants, is the often said comment.
Well, that may be but that's not what this thread is about. I want to get into some of the science and theory behind lighting for a planted aquarium in the hopes that we can come up with objective criteria that we can then apply to fixtures when shopping for lighting. This will allow us to compare different brands and see if any additional cost is worth the difference. Let's be educated consumers in our hobby.
So, first things first. I contacted several light manufacturers and asked if they had any reports or studies that they could share with me about proper lighting for a planted aquarium or aquatic plants in general. Every one told me no. I then asked my friend Balazs from Green Aqua who also told me he didn't know of anyone who was actively studying this subject. Frustrating.
I realize some of this has been brought up in various sites that are scattered across the Internet. Let's focus our discussion here on the latest thinking. If you know of any relevant data, please post it here.
Let's start this journey by establishing the criteria needed to judge lights.
Criteria to use to compare LED lighting for the planted aquarium
I propose that we use the following:- Light spectrum - does the light provide the light spectrum that is most beneficial for photosynthesis and for visual appeal?
- PAR - does the light provide optimal PAR to optimize photosynthesis at the level needed?
- Light blending - does the light provide a blanket of light that blends the LEDs uniformly or does it create distinct areas of light leading to a disco ball effect?
- Light spread - does the light cover the entire aquarium or just areas?
- Heat dissipation - does the light have enough heat dissipation to extend its life?
- Warranty - all things break. How good is the warranty?
- UL certification - is the light certified by UL Labs for safety