Lighting: Quality, Quantity & Duration
By Robert Fenner
Reprinted with permission, from Bob's website in San Diego: www.wetwebmedia.com
Aquarticles
As important as lighting is to the appearance, health of livestock and cost of planted
aquarium keeping, it is not surprising that it is an oft-discussed topic. What is shocking
to me is how much ignorance and dissonance surrounds illumination. There really is a giant
difference between what looks good to humans and what is functional in marine systems with
or without photosynthetic organisms. For looks; "beauty is indeed, in the eye of the
beholder", but the same buyer ought to be aware and beware. The ambient amount and
quality of light energy that reaches various depths has been accurately measured; and
technology exists to replicate, even better, these conditions in captivity. So why the
proliferation of lighting fixturization, lamp types, wattages, timing devices, and
controversy about what is best? And wherefore the lack of success given all the money,
burned hands and big energy bills? Perhaps it's our ignorance regarding proper light and
lighting.
Arguably a chief input to keeping aquatic garden systems, though not the only critical
one, is light. This form of energy is poorly understood and manipulated by aquarists.
Fixtures and lamps (we'll use the generic term for all artificial light sources; bulbs,
tubes, etc.) generally provided in the trade are inadequate for planted aquariums.
Lighting is way too often of the wrong spectral mix and too low in luminosity. But don't
despair. Light/lighting is not difficult to grasp, and fixtures and lamps that provide
optimum illumination are to be had at modest cost.
For the Conscientious Aquarist light and lighting provide two functions; 1) aesthetic
and 2) functional, or put another way; 1) illumination and 2) health benefits including
possible photosynthesis. The former is a matter of taste; what you, the aquarist considers
beautiful. The latter is a matter of science and economics: given the depth and given
conditions of a system, providing the quality, quantity and duration of light is
"simply" a selection of what your organisms require and what you're willing to
spend.
It is imminently important that you understand the above (please re-read it until you
can explain to anyone) along with some basic theory of what light is and how it
"works" in water in order to be successful with marine aquaria, and to keep from
going broke. As you will see, the best available, most appropriate lighting technology for
Conscientious Aquarist is simple, straight-forward, relatively inexpensive to purchase,
operate and replace, and has been with us quite a long time.
What is Light, Science/Facts:
As with all communication, it is necessary for us to share common symbolism; for us to
define certain abstract terms. Bear with me, Dear Reader, for a brief review of what's
germinal to understanding our subject of light here.
Light is generally considered to be the visible (what we can see) portion of the
electro-magnetic radiation (EMR) spectrum. Do you recall the presentation of light, EMR as
"waves", or wave functions? Wavelengths are the distance between the crests (or
troughs) of these waves. The wavelengths of visible light extend from about 4,000 to 7,000
angstroms (one angstrom equals 10-8 , or 0.000 000 01 meter, a billionth of a meter). You
may have encountered another unit of measurement, the nanometer (abbreviated as Nm),
defined as 10-9 or 0.000 000 001 meter. Visible light as measured by this unit of length
is 400 to 700 nanometers. EMR smaller in wavelength than visible light (@380 Nm) includes
Ultraviolet Radiation (UV ) (and x-rays, gamma rays, cosmic rays) is diagrammatically
placed on a chart to the left of to the visible spectra (wavelengths). On the other
(right) side of the scale is electro-magnetic radiation wavelengths greater than visible
light (@780+ Nm). This is the realm of Infrared, microwave (radar), television, FM, Short
Wave, AM and other radiation.
There is a related measure of EMR waves we need to be concerned with, frequency. Simply
put, this is how many waves of a wavelength propagate past a given point every second.
This 'cycles per second' is the units we call Hertz (Hz). The important relationship
between wavelength and frequency I want you to remember is logical. You know the speed of
light is a constant; therefore the smaller the wavelength, the greater the frequency.
Conversely with an increase in the wavelength, what happens to the frequency? Right, it
gets smaller.
Why is All This So Important?
Now get this; as EMR, including light approaches/enters into a more optically dense medium
, in our case water, a few things happen. 1) Some is reflected depending on the angle of
incidence, and disruption of the water surface, 2) EMR entering the water is refracted or
bent as it is slowed, as water is more optically dense than air. 3) That light is
selectively absorbed , the majority of the red-end of the spectrum, being filtered-out in
the first few inches (tens of centimeters) of depth, with blue to UV +and beyond
wavelengths reaching further down. (Let's dispense with diffraction, interference,
polarization, etc. characteristics of light.)
The useful biological implications of these facts are profound. Aquarium plants and
other photosynthetic organisms utilize light-capturing mechanisms in the form of
photosynthetic ("putting together with light") pigments , like chlorophylls. The
entire organic world runs on the energy translated and stored in photosynthesis. The
combination of water and carbon dioxide (under favorable light, heat, nutrient
conditions), re-formed as sugars and oxygen photosynthesis . The reverse of this reaction
is respiration.
The various light-using species can only utilize certain wavelengths/frequencies of
light ; notably in the orange-short red and blue parts of the spectrum, not the green and
yellow that our eyes most appreciate. What does this mean? If optimizing health/growth of
aquatic life is your goal, you want to provide energy of the needed/useful wavelengths.
Other spectra may be desirable for appearance sake; others (UV and infrared) can be
innocuous to hazardous to you, your system and your livestock. Thus the quality of light
is vital.
How about the quantity of light? This is, of course as significant as quality. Too
little or too much light is harmful.
The duration, how long the light is on every day is our last light concern. Plants that
hail from the tropics experience a more constant light regimen than ones from colder
climes. Optimum conditions utilize an increasingly light morning to intense midday to
decreasing afternoon, for slightly more than half-day light.
These three measures of light, quality, quantity and duration are chief concerns of the
Conscientious Aquarist, indeed all aquarists. Thus we will cover them one by one.
The final section of our discussion will 'throw light' on considerations of the costs
of function versus looks in lighting the marine system.
1) System Light Quality:
The quality of light is its composition, mix of spectra (wavelengths), or color, if you
will. Let's review the prominent measures/features of light quality, so you can make
apples-to-apples comparisons for yourself regarding the various means of lighting your
system(s).
Color Rendering Index (CRI) is an indication of how a light source
affects the appearance of a standardized color chart compared with natural sunlight (under
controlled conditions). Obviously, sunlight scores a big 100 CRI, with numbers approaching
one-hundred being close to sunlight. See the accompanying chart for what the sun's
spectral power curve approximates. For the sake of photosynthesis in aquaria, CRI values
of ninety (90) or greater are called for.
Color Temperature is a more difficult concept to elucidate. For our
purposes, let's just say that this is an equivalent temperature of a star (like our sun)
that would emit the radiation measured. Our stars sunlight ranges somewhere between 5,000
and 6,200 degrees Kelvin. We want a light source of 5,000 degrees Kelvin (some writers say
6,000) or greater along with a CRI of 90 or greater. Make sense so far? Let me
re-emphasize; the pretty color rendered by "aquatic fluorescents" has nothing to
do with functionality. You want a CRI of 90+ coupled with a Color Temperature of 5,000+
Kelvin.
A note here on Spectral Shift. As they are used, all the differing
light technologies change to known degrees in the percentages of what wavelengths they
produce. Their luminosity decreases also, along with the preponderance of the desired
spectral bands. We'll have more to say about this later, but what you'll want to provide
and make adjustment for is that light quality degrades over use/time with all lamps.
2) Light Quantity
Otherwise known as intensity or photo-strength, the amount of light is just as critical as
its quality. Light quantity is measured in lumens, the International Standard of emitted
light . Please forget about the terms foot candle, and lux (ten foot candles). These are
archaic measures of received light and not of much real use to the Conscientious Aquarist.
I'll go out on a/the proverbial limb and offer a general "rule of thumb" for
how much light is enough, to approaching optimal, to more than can be useful but not
harmful. My hesitancy is based on not knowing many factors that strongly affect your
system's light requirements. Tall tanks (greater than twenty inches) require more light.
Ditto for ones with lots of life, especially ones with mechanical surface disrupters
(pumps, bubblers), staggered, shady decor arrangements, dissolved color, particulates....
Different photosynthetic species., adapted to differing conditions and traumas have
differing light demands. Water color, carbon dioxide, carbonate, pH, temperature... and
more also change the minimum/maximum suggested lumens. Be all that as it may, I suggest
one to two watts of full-spectrum fluorescents, roughly equivalent to 50 to 100 lumens per
gallon for most systems (sight unseen). For "super-systems" with C0 2 infusion,
pH monitors/dosimeters, mega-algae and/or light-demanding plant species, doubling (and
then some) this number is not unrealistic. One last comment re the above. Be aware that
the watts of energy consumed is not equivalent to watts of light energy produced. Luminous
efficacy, the light output divided by the power rating of the lamp, expressed in lumens
per watt, is an important measure. The waste heat from other lighting formats is largely
the lost part of this equation. You don't want to pay for this waste-heat, it's
consequences, or elimination.
Lamps have rated life and lumen depreciation. The latter describes the loss of light
production over the life of a lamp; all lamps produce less light as they age with use.
Rated life is a value determined by experiment. It is the time in which half the test
lamps burn out; this is much more than their functional life span . Four foot fluorescents
are good for @ 20,000 hours, shorter lamps slightly less time. This translates to a good
two years of 12-13 hours per day. Turning the lamp on/off frequently shortens real and
functional life. The use of electronic ballasts extends the same. HO, VHO (Very High
Output) and metal halide lamps suffer much more quickly and severely from lumen
depreciation and rated life, as much as forty percent loss.
3) Light Duration:
Also known as light-dark cycle, photoperiodicity; it is the amount of time each day the
light(s) are on. Most photosynthetic organisms used in aquariums originate from the
tropics where day lengths don't vary much during the year. Within reason, 12-16 light-hour
days are optimum, more especially if your quantity of light is on the low side. This is
best determined by knowing what healthy specimens look like when provided adequate
lighting.
Regularity of photoperiod can be very meaningful. Experiments have shown that long dark
or light periods (1-2 days) severely affect aquatic life, photosynthetic and otherwise.
Use of Timers: Get them, they're great; and fixtures with self-starting features.
Real fancy systems actually mix different quality and quantity light types as the day
progresses. One such schema involves a blue to red midday:
Lamp Type/Model # /Time On Off
Philips/ 82 / 7:00 - 16:00
Osram/ 41 / 8:00 - 16:30
Osram/ 41/ 9.00 - 17:15
Philips 83 10:00 - 18:00
Some scientific culture laboratories even go so far as to utilize polarized light and
lighting fixtures that travel overhead in an arc in an attempt to more fully copy Mother
Nature. Pretty amazing, isn't it?
So How Do I Get the 'Right' Amount and Type of Light @ The Lowest Cost?
What fixtures and lamps can get you this magical mix of spectral quality with the greatest
of ease? And why not just use sunlight? The last question first. Natural sunlight is
ill-suited for most set-ups. Most of us live in houses, in the less-tropical parts of the
world, and want to see our systems flourishing whether the sun's up or not. Besides, the
sun has an annoying habit of over-heating aquariums for the reasons stated in the
introduction.
For these reasons artificial light sources are almost universally employed. I will
specifically address the major types of fixtures and lamps available to the hobbyist in a
couple of sections. For our objective here, I want to quickly dispense with the 'losing'
technologies of incandescent, quartz halogen, metal halide, mercury vapor, and all other
than full-spectrum fluorescent lighting.
Incandescent bulbs may provide many of the desired spectra needed by
live plants, but the electrical cost of their operation per amount of light produced is
dismal, their concomitant production of waste heat prodigious, and lamp replacement
interval all too short. Some 'old-timers' swear by them, and they do work; but those folks
have hot homes and high electric bills, not to mention trash cans filled-up with burnt out
bulbs.
Metal Halide & Mercury Vapor technologies are not for the
mainstream marine aquarist. Though some types of metal halides produce good quantities of
the desirable qualities of light at a low enough cost, they also many drawbacks. Let me
name the most notable: 1) They cost big bucks to acquire and operate, 2) Generate an
abundance of ultraviolet radiation. Make sure you employ units engineered for marine
systems, and utilize the ultraviolet filters provided. For the sake of your aquatic
charges and your own health, you should be wary of too much UV exposure. 3) They're hot;
take care not to burn yourself or your house to the ground. Much more about this under the
"Fixture" section.
Both metal halide and mercury vapor types of lighting share other drawbacks. They
should be mounted in hoods that can be raised and lowered for light and heat control,
probably will require motorized fans, and incorporate reflective mechanisms to direct and
shield their super-nova blasts downward. Also they are limited to high wattages, most
coming in a few to several hundred watt sizes, up. Admittedly, the efficacy of metal
halides is increasing, with operating lifespans, wattages and replacement costs rivaling
fluorescents; but the facts remain: These fixtures are hot, often requiring specialized
ventilation and other provisions for preventing over-heating of system water. A strong
argument can be made for the sheer beauty of the light and the fixtures of these light
installations; there are some that are gorgeous. Halides have their places; for huge
systems with needs for high outputs, desire for concentrated light, designer... But the
bottom line is that they are functionally much more money to acquire, operate and replace
than...
Full-Spectrum Fluorescent lighting. In standard, as contrasted with
High Output (HO), and Very High Output (VHO) ballasted formats has been and still is the
best available, most appropriate lighting technique for 99.99% of aquarists. It provides
the best quality and quantity light at the lowest up front, operational and replacement
cost. Period.
And now to give credit to where credit is tremendously due, my specific and
whole-hearted endorsement for the all-fish marine, reef system, planted aquarium,
palludarium, vivarium lights par excellence: Duro-Test Corporation's Vita-Lite (c) and
Vita-Lite Supreme (c). The original Vita-Lite hit the market in 1967 (!) as the world's
first patented, natural-daylight-stimulating fluorescent tube. For over twenty five years
(until the advent of their Vita-Lite Supreme) Duro's Vita-Lite was the closest simulation
of natural daylight ever created by anyone, anywhere. (No, I'm not being paid for this
plug) Specifications: 5500 K, 91 CRI, 2180 Lumens. For folks looking for more luminosity
Duro-Test offers another lamp, the Vita-Lite Plus; the only specification difference being
the generation of 2,750 lumens. The Vita-Lite Supreme offers 5500K, a CRI of 96 at 2000
lumens; it is the best match yet to natural outdoor light. These are great (the best
available) lamps for the marine aquarist, aquatic gardener, herptile keeper, photographer
wanting to skip filters, and human work place. They grow aquatic organisms better than any
other light system, without specialized fixturing at the lowest cost. What is more, your
fishes and photosynthetic organisms look and live better under these lamps. Yes, these
products are that good. You can reach Duro to find your nearest dealer by dialing
1-800-289-3876. Also, in all fairness, I'd like to mention three other manufacturers of
full-spectrum fluorescents. They are Philips with the Colortone 50, General Electric with
their Chromaline 50 and Verilux with lamps of the same name. These companies also 'private
label' full spectrum lamps for other labels. You will have to look for the CRI,
Temperature in Kelvin, Luminosity in lumens, power curve, and average life ratings to make
your own consumer judgments.
Some information regarding 'other' types of fluorescent lamps. Be wary of lamps termed
wide of broad spectrum. These are not the same as full-spectrum lamps which provide the
total range of necessary spectra, including some UV. Daylight, cool-white, warm-white
similarly are not full-spectrum and used by themselves will not support hermatypic (or
endo-symbiotic algal) life. Cool white lamps, which are the most readily available for
home and business use are the most efficient for their intended use; that is, they produce
the most lumens per watt of energy consumed of human-visible light . The wavelengths
produced are not suitable for aquatic systems. Cool Whites have a CRI of 62; yes, a
pathetic sixty two.
The current, "latest and greatest" technology involves Compact
Fluorescent lighting fixtures and lamps... these provide tremendous amounts of
appropriate irradiation at a low cost per useful lumen... more and more being measured in
PAR (Photosynthetically Available Radiation) ... the best indicator (yes, there are
meters) for real useful light energy produced.
I'm not saying that other lighting formats are a scam; my point is hopefully clear:
Other light types may be better looking to any one person; that is a matter of taste. For
the purpose of keeping, growing, and showing marine aquatics, full-spectrum fluorescents
are by far best. Fixtures can be made or bought at reasonable cost, with little down-side
of over-heating, burning you or your abode. The lamps suggested have functional life spans
of about two years. The spectral shift and lumen depreciation are tractable and easily
adjusted for.
Other Pertinent Light Notes:
Lamp Rotation: For the purposes of Spectral Shift and Lumen Depreciation was mentioned
previously. Allow me to reinforce the need for replacing full-spectrum lamps, used on up
to a 14 hour light 10 hour dark regimen, every two years. Label the lamps, their fixture,
a time-coded device in your personal computer... to keep tract; but don't wait until your
photosynthetic life starts paling to check on your lamps.
Also, I want to make sure and mention the advantages of direct exposure of the lamps to
the water's surface. Do your best to keep nothing between the lamps and the water; all
such barriers reduce light transmission and phase shift the light.
Conclusion:
So there you have it, a long snapshot view of what light is, the quantities and qualities
of light that are of import to the Conscientious Aquarist, and how to reason and apply
what you need in the way of lighting to have a system that looks great, keeps your
livestock healthy without putting you in the poor house.
If you're into high technology looks, and don't mind paying for them, there is no end
to fixtures and lamps (quartz halogen, metal halide, mercury vapor; High Output, Very High
Output fluorescents, actinics, -lux lamps, ad light-nauseum). These are fine for what
they're good for: appearances. Kudos to foreign writers and their readership who have the
discipline to fool with these fixtures, acculturate livestock to their luminosity,
prodigious heat and U-V outputs... For most Americans?
The winning technology is Compact Fluorescent and full-spectrum fluorescent lighting
with boosted output fixtures. There is no improvement in sight for natural photosynthetic
light-energy capturing mechanisms; what we are striving to do is artificially replicate
conducive lighting conditions at a reasonable cost. The best way to do this since the late
sixties is with full-spectrum fluorescents.
References/Further Reading:
Frados, Andrew. 1986. The Importance of Light in the Aquarium. T.F.H. 7/86.
Illuminating Engineering Society. 1984. IES Lighting Handbook Vol. 1 Applications, Vol.
2 Reference.
Osborne, Kevin. 1982, 83. Full Spectrum Lighting in the Planted Aquarium. FAMA 12/82,
1/83.
Osborne, Kevin. 1994. Lighting & the Planted Aquarium, pts. 1,2,3. FAMA 1,2,3/94.
Ostrow, Marshall E. 1979. Lighting Your Tank. T.F.H. 6/79.
Pillai, Joe Bastian, M.I.E., 1990. Lighting For Aquariums, A Study of Terms. The Pet
Dealer, 3/90.
Smit, George. 1986. Marine Aquariums, Part Two: The importance of light. FAMA 2/86.
Special thanks to Mr. Dick Neubert, Manager of Communications & Publicity at
Duro-Test Lighting for kindly answering my many questions and providing technical
information.
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