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16
TIP
MATCH THE LIGHTING TO YOUR LIVESTOCK. IF
MAXIMUM COLOURATION
IS YOUR THING GO FOR
HAGEN POWERGLO OR INTERPET TRIPLUS. THIS WILL
ENHANCE FISH COLOURS
FROM THE RED AND
ORANGE OF GOLDFISH TO THE BLUE AND YELLOW OF MALAWI CICHLIDS. FOR MARINES, ALWAYS
CHOOSE MARINE LIGHTING AS
CORALS NEED LIGHT
OF THE RIGHT SPECTRUM IN ORDER TO THRIVE.
What else
do youneed?
So if you want to keep fish, what other equipment
do you need and what does it do?
Lighting
All living organisms are adapted to a daily
cycle of light and dark. In the tropics, it is
sunny nearly every day and fish, plants
and corals are adapted to take advantage
of that light.
Artificial light can be used to enhance
fish colours and aid plant growth.
Because of the close proximity to water,
we use lighting that is splash-proof and
light tubes that are specifically designed
for aquatic use. The most common
form of lighting available is fluorescent
tubes and they can range from a single,
standard tube to power compact,
high output or multiple light tubes in
“luminaires” which span across open-
topped tanks.
Choose from standard T8, high-
powered T5 or the incredible brightness
of suspended metal halide lighting. Any
lighting can be further enhanced by the
addition of a reflector, which can increase
the brightness considerably.
For multiple lighting without all the
cabling, twin light starter units can used.
Live plants may need two or more
light tubes to aid their growth, and some
marine corals are demanding of very
bright light so use T5 or metal halide
lighting for them
Although beneficial, too much lighting
can cause nuisance algae to grow so it
should be on for no longer than 10-12
hours per day. Plug lighting into a timer so
it comes on daily and at the same time.
Keep reflectors and cover glasses
clean, and replace light tubes every 12
months.
Lighting is essential for
successful plant growth.