Coral Reef AquariumsSpecializing in Aquarium Equipment | ||||||||||||||||||||||
VHO vs HO vs PC vs MHLighting technology continues to evolve. High Output T5 have become the mainstream product over the past several years. They are a great light and offer a good solution for tanks up 120 gallons (4') since each lamp has an output of 54w and can be configured up to 8 lamps. For deeper tanks (30" or more) and longer tanks (72") we recommend using Metal Halide lighting or LED lighting in either a fixture or within a canopy. The Light Mover System is an ideal method to use less Lights but gain more Coral Lighting. We utilize that technology in our store. LED's continue gaining recognition and have evolved to a point where they are a good solution. With other lighting options its clear on what you need, watts per gallon and color spectrum. With LEDs it gets more complex. There are 1 watt LEDs, 3 watt and soon 5 watt. There are different lens to control the angle of light in degrees. There are different mixes of whites and blues to give optional color spectrums. There are dimmable vs non-dimmable. Different arrays of LEDs like 100 1watt or 50 3watt or even 100 3watt. Some LEDs can be controlled by a computer chip to simulate dawn, storms, dusk and lunar cycles. Some higher tech lights like Aquailumination can be controlled via a third party Reef Controller. The challange with LEDs is getting the right solution that will work for you and be flexible. There are many off-shore LEDs appearing in the US and we advise caution. Were here to consult you on the right Lighting choice. |
LightingWhile Freshwater and Marine Fish systems require lighting there is less focus on wattage per gallon and simply more on the color spectrum. In a Reef Aquariums Lighting is one of the more critical elements. We take pride in consulting our customers to determine the proper lighting based on value, wattage per gallon, color, annual costs, heat transfer and of course costs. Lighting continues to evolve from the standard T12 VHO's and Power Compacts. We now have T5 VHO and HO, VHO Twist, T10's and a host of new color spectrum's and more coming. We specialize in Acan LED Lighting, Sunlight Systems, IceCap, Hamilton Technology, UV Lighting, Current, Coralife and the new Light rails or Light Movers that are now available to our market. Lighting Facts
Color Spectrum (Phosphor Blends) and PAR value are an important aspect of lighting. The critical parameter of good coral growth is having the right spectrum of whites, blues and ever reds and the right PAR value. Most lamps made for Reef Aquariums have the blends clearly marked in Color Temperature (not heat related) like 10k, 12k, 14k and 20k. LED'S allow you to control the intensity of the whites and blues giving you the ability to blend to your needs. |
Navigation Services | ||||||||||||||||||||
Contact UsVisit our showroom we are located at Sweetwater Square located at 895 Fox Valley Drive, Longwood Florida. Just 2.7 miles from Interstate 4. Call us at (321) 972-6970, or EMAIL us at tviolante@craquariums.com. |