lighting question - Aquarium Advice

justrelax · 08-28-2006, 02:41 PM

why are halogen lights not used in aquaria? i see them at the home-improvement stores and they seem just as bright, if not brighter, than flourescents. is it just not the right spectrum or what?

JDogg · 08-28-2006, 02:49 PM

this is what i found

Quote:

1) First of all, they generate a very focused light - a spot light,
even on the so-called "floods" tha I'm familiar with.

2) Second, they do generate a lot of heat. If they are close to
a tank, and especially a small tank, this can cause considerable
fluctuations in daily water temps.

3) Third, their wavelength peaks do not correspond to the wavelengths
plants prefer (if that sounds a little vague, its because I'm B.S.ing -
the particulars are well known by the light and plant gurus in this
group and they can and have explained it much better).

at this web page http://www.thekrib.com/Lights/halogen.html

JRagg · 08-28-2006, 03:11 PM

Isn't metal halide a type of halogen lamp?

If so, then they are used in aquaria (generally in SW tanks, but can be used in FW planted tanks).

justrelax · 08-28-2006, 04:23 PM

good link, jdogg. that answers all my questions...

janek · 08-29-2006, 03:11 AM

They could work but they cannot be energy efficient.

Tostada · 08-29-2006, 02:48 PM

Halogen is actually a very vague term. I think every incandescant light that costs over $1 is halogen. The term itself simply refers to a group of elements. In lighting, it means the bulb is filled with a halogen -- one of the inert gasses which won't react with the filament and cause it to burn out sooner.

Whatever specific lights you're talking about, I think it would be easy to see if the lights generated too focused a beam or made too much heat for your aquarium, but the important part is just like you said in the first post: the spectrum isn't ideal. If you're not growing plants, it really doesn't matter that much ... but if you're not growing plants, you probably wouldn't be concerned about alternative upgraded lighting.

coldmachineUK · 08-29-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

I think every incandescant light that costs over $1 is halogen. The term itself simply refers to a group of elements. In lighting, it means the bulb is filled with a halogen -- one of the inert gasses which won't react with the filament and cause it to burn out sooner.

*Nods. I believe most aquaria light tubes are known as 'standard halophosphate' lamps.

08-28-2006, 02:41 PM	#1
justrelax Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Grand Haven, MI Posts: 734 Images: 8	lighting question why are halogen lights not used in aquaria? i see them at the home-improvement stores and they seem just as bright, if not brighter, than flourescents. is it just not the right spectrum or what? __________________ BELIEVE 30 Gallon FW. 1 Albino Bushynose Plecostomus, 2 Harlequin Raspboras, and 1 Male German Blue Ram

08-28-2006, 03:11 PM	#3
JRagg Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 847 Images: 3	Isn't metal halide a type of halogen lamp? If so, then they are used in aquaria (generally in SW tanks, but can be used in FW planted tanks). __________________ 10g Heavily planted - 1 mating pair of Apistogramma Cacatuoides "Orangeflash" and a whole lot of MTS

08-28-2006, 04:23 PM	#4
justrelax Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Grand Haven, MI Posts: 734 Images: 8	good link, jdogg. that answers all my questions... __________________ BELIEVE 30 Gallon FW. 1 Albino Bushynose Plecostomus, 2 Harlequin Raspboras, and 1 Male German Blue Ram

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08-29-2006, 03:11 AM	#5
janek Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 48	They could work but they cannot be energy efficient.

08-29-2006, 02:48 PM	#6
Tostada Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: dayton, oh Posts: 267 Images: 17	Halogen is actually a very vague term. I think every incandescant light that costs over $1 is halogen. The term itself simply refers to a group of elements. In lighting, it means the bulb is filled with a halogen -- one of the inert gasses which won't react with the filament and cause it to burn out sooner. Whatever specific lights you're talking about, I think it would be easy to see if the lights generated too focused a beam or made too much heat for your aquarium, but the important part is just like you said in the first post: the spectrum isn't ideal. If you're not growing plants, it really doesn't matter that much ... but if you're not growing plants, you probably wouldn't be concerned about alternative upgraded lighting.