DIY Aquarium Lighting
For those who like to make things themselves, there are plenty of opportunities with DIY aquarium lighting. Among the items that are very commonly customized on saltwater aquariums, lighting is one of the most common.
Many people who are interested in creating their own custom lighting are doing so because they have to either make modifications to an existing lighting hood, or the one they have is no longer useful with the new tank they've designed. Either way, you'll likely need to do some very minor soldering for any properly designed DIY aquarium lighting.
Taking and Using Good Measurements
For starters, you need to do some research and find out what the needs of the plants and animals in your ecosystem actually are. This can be found in books and online. Though, generally, fish do like to spend some time out of light as they sleep, some animals need a certain amount of sunlight per day to flourish. Be prepared to change the bulb you're using fairly often, and consider that along with your total "cost of ownership."
Types of Lighting
While primary lighting is perhaps the most important DIY aquarium lighting factor, one of the other most often implemented types is a secondary or "moon" light that shines a small amount of light (often from LEDs these days) during what would otherwise be the tank sleep cycle. The new bright white, blue and green LEDs are very popular because they cast so much more light than their red, yellow and orange counterparts with very little power.
Generally primary bulbs are either some type of fluorescent, and there are many, or metal halide. The latter is often used in greenhouses and casts a great deal of light in very specific wavelengths, depending upon the metal used. It also takes a great deal more power, dissipates more heat and burns out somewhat frequently. Fluorescent bulbs do flicker at a refresh rate of 50 or 60 times per second that bothers some people and fish. They also happen to come in many types of bulb, some more efficient than others.
Building Considerations
You should ask yourself some questions about your objectives:
- How often will you have to replace the main bulb?
- Are the ballasts interchangeable with various types of bulbs?
- How much wattage can you safely draw without requiring a cooler?
- Do you often watch the tank at night?
- What is your electronics skill, really?
- Can you resist salt-water corrosion?
The answers to the above questions will greatly assist you in choosing the best DIY aquarium lighting systems to fit your tank's needs.
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