LEDDY TUBE MARINE DAY&NIGHT

LEDDY TUBE MARINE D&N can be installed in Aquael covers and lamps. Thanks to the use of accessory T5/T8 adapters, it can also be installed in any cover or lamp dedicated to traditional aquarium fluorescent lamps. The DUBLED accessory hanger allows you to add an additional module to the lamp or cover, thereby increasing the illumination of the tank.

The LEDDY TUBE MARINE D&N LED module is equipped with the Day & Night function. It works in three operating modes: DAY / DAYBREAK / NIGHT. DAY is the basic and strongest light for illuminating the aquarium during the day. DAYBREAK means reduced daytime lighting power to 50% plus blue light. It works well as the first mode after night and when feeding fish – especially if you have a skittish stock. NIGHT is a blue glow that allows for a unique observation of the aquarium after dark, including nocturnal fish and animals. Day & Night lighting will beautifully highlight the arrangement in the aquarium both during the day and at night, and will also make the interior of the room where the tank is located more cozy. The DAY / DAYBREAK / NIGHT operating mode is changed after turning the module off and on using the switch within no longer than 5 seconds. Switching directly to DAY mode takes place after turning off the module for a period longer than 5 seconds and turning it on again. It is best to automate this process using a modern SOCKET DUO aquarium controller.

Modern LEDs and traditional fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps

Properly selected LEDs are the basic light source in modern aquariums. They have effectively replaced the previously used fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps from the market. Compared to them, they have a number of advantages. They allow for a significant reduction in electricity consumption, because while producing the same amount of light as fluorescent lamps, they consume up to half as much energy. This translates into both lower electricity bills, good for the aquarist’s pocket, and protection of the natural environment. They do not need to be replaced often with new ones, as they can operate for up to 15,000 hours. hours, which again saves a lot of money, protects the environment and is less labor intensive. They do not unnecessarily heat the water in the aquarium, they shine directionally only towards the water surface (so there is no need to use additional reflectors), and, unlike traditional fluorescent lamps, they have a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

White and actinic light

A marine reef aquarium should be lit with two types of light that differ in color, or – technically speaking – in color temperature. Color temperature is a concept invented by theoretical physicists. This is the temperature to which a hypothetical “perfect black body” must be heated so that it begins to emit light of a specific color. It is expressed in Kelvin. The main type of light used in reef aquariums is white light. It provides the energy necessary for photosynthesis for zooxanthellae, and also perfectly reproduces the beautiful colors of marine animals. They are emitted by LEDDY TUBE MARINE D&N LED modules, which are a complementary product to LEDDY TUBE ACTINIC modules.

The second type of light necessary in a reef aquarium is the so-called actinic light, intensely blue to slightly purple with a color temperature of 16000-24000 K. It helps imitate the effect of sunrise and dusk and contributes to better coloration of fish, as well as corals and other sessile invertebrates. In the case of many of them, it also enhances the effect of the so-called fluorescence (animals seem to glow in the twilight, which gives them an exceptionally attractive appearance). It also has a very important, although not yet fully scientifically explained, importance for the proper functioning of many marine organisms. For example, the use of high-quality actinic light often stimulates some species of saltwater animals in the aquarium to breed.

How much light in the aquarium?

How much light does a reef aquarium require? Usually, its power is calculated per liter of aquarium. When using LED modules, the optimal amount is considered to be 0.6 to 0.72 W for each liter of water, assuming that the tank is no higher than 55-60 cm (in the case of taller tanks, this amount increases rapidly). About half should be white light and the rest actinic light. With the acquired experience and preferences of the aquarium owner, the proportions of white and blue light can be modified, adapting them to the desired coral growth rate and the stage of development of the tank.

How to combine white light with actinic light? Well, the former should be lit continuously for 8-10 hours a day, and the latter for 10-14 hours. It looks like the actinic light should turn on first, and after about an hour or two the white light should reach it. After the above-mentioned 8-10 hours, we turn off the white light, and the actinic light should turn off about an hour or two after it. It is best to automate this process using a modern SOCKET DUO aquarium controller.

A “day” in an aquarium can fall on virtually any part of the day. If the tank is located far from windows and is lit only by artificial light, the times when the lighting can be turned on and off can be virtually any. It is best to simply adjust them to our preferences and the hours when we are usually present in the apartment (e.g. “dawn” at 3:00 p.m. and “dusk” at 1:00 a.m.). We can then enjoy the beauty of our own “piece of ocean” brightly illuminated.