Aquarium lighting

Most people choose to buy their Aquarium without first having decided where it should go. It is very important to have this decision made before you assemble the tank. Moving the tank once it has been assembled can prove difficult and you can encounter all sorts of problems which might even end up with you breaking it. For this reason if you have to move your tank, empty it first.

Another important issue when choosing the right place to establish the aquarium is temperature variations, therefore do not place next to a door, radiator or window. With temperature variations the fish can easily become exposed to disease.

Be careful if you choose to establish the aquarium in the kitchen as the tank's vibrator gates can become corked due to long time exposure to steam and other substances like oil or grease which can also end up in the aquarium’s water.

You must also take into consideration natural lighting. If the natural light comes from the north or west you will not encounter problems with the growth of algae but your plants won't grow either, with the exception of Cryptocoryne plants that only need little light. If you place the aquarium with the light coming from the south you can have a lot of problems with both green and blue algae. Therefore it is recommended that the Aquarium receive natural light from the East.

Besides natural sources of light you will also going to need an additional artificial lighting to ensure your plants remain healthy during winter when the days are shorter. Use a white light source as this is formed from a complex of 7 colorful specters: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and violet this source of aquarium lighting provides a better result than even natural light.

The duration on daily aquarium illumination must be at least 11 or 12 hours a day with 200 lx intensity. You should be aware that at the bottom of the tank the light’s intensity must be equivalent to 2W lighting if we refer to bulbs and 0.7W if when referring to fluorescent tubes. When using fluorescent bulbs ensure that the bulb has the same dimensions as the aquarium, so as to ensure that no light is lost through the reflection of the tank.