Hej Jakob,
Du skal bruge 1 Aquaray 500 pr kvadratfod overfladeareal. Jeg fik denne FAQ fra TMC da jeg spurgte på lamperne. Jeg har selv bestilt 4 som jeg vil teste i det næste halve år.
Mvh
Jesper
AquaRay Solid State Lighting from Tropical Marine Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Shimmer Effect”?
Also called “shimmer lines” or “glitter lines”, this is the moving pattern of light and shadow seen on objects in the aquarium. This effect is caused by a combination of water movement and light – as the surface of the water is agitated by current or air movement, the light rays hitting the surface of the water are refracted and reflected at different angles. This results in variations in the intensity of light striking objects within the water column.
“Shimmer” is regarded as important for 2 reasons:
It creates a more realistic and natural appearance to the aquarium.
Water in the ocean is always moving, and this means that most marine animals experience this “shimmer” effect all the time. Reproducing this effect in an aquarium can give your fish the same sense of broken patterns of light that they are used to, and thereby help reduce stress and improve animal health.
Note: some customers may find the increased shimmer effect generated by LED lighting to be too intense – in this case, try mounting the lights closer to the water surface. Reducing the amount of surface movement will also reduce the effect.
Why do AquaRay lights produce shimmer effect, while fluorescent lights don’t?
Generally speaking, the larger the light-emitting area of the light source, relative to the surface area of the water, the less shimmer effect will result. Because fluorescent tubes are Omni-directional (they emit light in all directions) and the light is emitted from a large area (the entire length of the tube), they tend to nullify any shimmer in the confined area of an aquarium. Single-point light sources, such as the AquaRay LED range deliver specific beams of light which are refracted and reflected independently by water movement within the aquarium. This is what produces the same natural shimmer that occurs, for example, when light from the sun hits the surface of the ocean.
How high above the water should I mount my AquaRay solid state lights?
To get the best from your AquaRay lights, they should be mounted between 3 and 6 inches from the water surface. As noted above, and as a general rule, the greater the distance between the water surface and the lights, the more pronounced the shimmer effect will be, so try different heights if possible to get the effect you want.
How many AquaBeam 500 units will I need for my marine aquarium?
For a FULL REEF aquarium (fish and invertebrates): 1 x AquaBeam500 per 1 sq. ft. of surface area, for example, to light a 4 foot x 2 foot aquarium, you will need 4 x 2 = 8 units.
For a FISH ONLY WITH LIVE ROCK aquarium: 1 x AquaBeam 500 per 1.3 sq. ft. of surface area. Using the same example, you will need 4 x 2 / 1.3 = 6 units.
How many GrowBeam 500 units will I need for my tropical or planted aquarium?
For a TROPICAL aquarium (fish and plants): 1 x AquaBeam500 per 2 sq. ft. of surface area. To light the same size aquarium, you will need 4 x 2 / 2 = 4 units.
The above is a guide only - ultimately the number of units you use will come down to personal preference.
How hot do LED lights get, and will this affect my aquarium?
All electrical lights convert electrical current into light and heat – the more efficient the appliance, the higher the ratio of light to heat. Types of lighting that are traditionally used to light aquariums are among the least efficient, converting a high percentage of the current they draw into HEAT instead of LIGHT. To make matters worse, this heat, rather than being directed away from the aquarium, is actually reflected directly into the aquarium! This often means that the aquarium can be overheated, and may require additional expensive equipment to regulate its temperature.
The LED technology used in TMC’s AquaRay range minimises the negative effect of unwanted heat in two ways:
We use only the most efficient LED technology, with the latest thermal management properties. So, not only do the lights draw less current than traditional lighting types, but they convert a much higher percentage of the current into light instead of heat.
The design of the AquaRay range of light units ensures that any heat generated by the LED’s is directed AWAY from the aquarium, with large, multi-finned heat sinks on the rear of the units. In this way, any unwanted heat disperses into the air, rather than being directed into the aquarium. For this reason, it is important that air flow around the heat sinks is not disrupted or obscured in any way.
What is the Kelvin Colour Temperature of Aquaray lights?
AquaRay lights have been carefully designed to offer a lighting solution for almost any aquarium application, from tropical and planted aquaria, to full reef marine aquaria. The CREE diodes used in all AquaRays have been specially selected to deliver light of the correct temperature needed for each application.
For tropical and planted tanks, we recommend our Natural Daylight diode. This is a specially selected warm white LED, rated at 6500 Kelvin, the colour temperature widely accepted as optimum for freshwater biotopes.
For marine and reef aquaria**, two diode colours are used:
Marine White – this is a cool white diode, specially selected for brightness and is rated at 14000 Kelvin.
Reef Blue – this diode is rated at over 50000 Kelvin and is specified for accentuating the bright colours of corals and other bioluminescent marine animals. The shorter wavelength of blue light also means that this diode provides good light penetration for deeper or more specialised aquaria.
These colour temperature diodes are used either on their own or in combination across the AquaGrow and AquaRay range to provide maximum flexibility so you can create the lighting solution you want, for the type of aquarium you have.
**although these colours are defined for use in marine aquaria, they are also suitable for some specialised freshwater biotypes, for example in Cichlid or other fish only displays. For more information visit your local AquaRay stockist.
For more information on which lights in the range are right for you, please see “How do I choose what TMC Solid State lighting products to buy for my tank?”
Can I operate AquaRay lights underwater?
Definitely not! AquaRay lights are designed to provide the light that aquarium animals need in the same way they would get this light from the sun in their native habitat, that is, from above. This is also the best way to create the natural and life-like appearance that one would expect when looking at the aquarium. Submersible lights are not natural, and may in fact be harmful for animals which would not normally experience this kind of unfiltered light.
Although AquaRay lights are designed to be waterproof and to operate in a high-humidity environment, they are not submersible – damage cause by immersion in water will invalidate the product warranty.
Are AquaRay lights controllable and dimmable?
Yes, all AquaRay lights are digitally programmable. For this, you will need an authentic Tropical Marine Centre Digital Controller which will be available from your local stockist soon. All AquaRay lights are retro-compatible with this accessory. More information on this product will be available soon.
How do I choose what TMC Solid State lighting products to buy for my tank?
The TMC range of LED aquarium lights is divided into two sections:
The GroBeam range of lighting products use specially selected Power LED’s which are rated at 6500 Kelvin, an ideal colour temperature for planted and tropical tanks - this colour temperature will render green and red colours to their best effect in terms of vibrancy. Products in the range include the GrowBeam 500 and GrowBeam 1000.
The AquaBeam range provides the marine hobbyist with a range of lighting products to meet any lighting challenge. The AquaBeam 500 is available in four colours – Marine White, Reef White, Marine Blue and Reef Blue – while the new AquaBeam 1000 Ultra HD offers two colour choices – Marine White and Reef White.
The AquaBeam 500 Range
The AquaBeam 500 measures 490mm x 45mm x 35mm and has five power LED’s. The Marine White has five 14K diodes, and is designed to offer maximum brightness and the coolest of white illumination. This high Kelvin level is only achieved by the super white LEDs selected for and used in TMC Aquaray products - these are not supplied to other aquarium light manufacturers and are not available to the public.
Reef White and Marine Blue have two and three blue diodes respectively and this mixture of super white and blue means it’s possible to get the right balance of bright cool white light for illumination, and actinic blue light for viewing bioluminescence and penetrating deeper tanks.
The Reef Blue is all-blue, and can be used as a night light, as additional actinic light to accentuate bioluminescence and for lighting exceptionally deep tanks where only pure blue wavelengths can escape the progressive and natural absorption of the longer wavelengths as depth increases. (That’s why everything looks blue once you are a few metres underwater – only high energy short blue wavelengths remain from the original white, full spectrum light incident at the surface).
The AquaBeam 1000 Ultra HD Range
This unit measures 200mm x 200mm x 50mm and has ten power LED’s with custom optics to boost light output and optimise light delivery to the aquarium. The Marine White again has the 14K diodes for maximum brightness from TMC’s specially selected LEDs.
The Reef White has three blue and seven white LEDs, again with custom optics, to accentuate bioluminescence and improve light penetration.
The AquaRay Modular Mounting System (MMS) is an extensive range of accessories designed to provide a mounting solution for any aquarium design. This range is compatible with all GroBeam and AquaBeam products, and includes options for aquaria with closed hoods or open tops.
In the end, the range is defined to offer flexibility – mix and match the models, colours and mounting accessories to create the lighting effect you want!
For more information, technical specifications, dimensions, etc. please visit
http://www.tropicalmarinecentre.co.uk or, better still, visit your local retailer for a demonstration.
I keep hearing that LED’s come from “bins”, and other references to “binning” or “bin numbers” – what does this mean?
Tropical Marine Centre only use LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) from CREE Inc., one of the world’s leading innovators and manufacturers of solid-state lighting technology.
CREE manufacture a huge range of different LED’s, and the term “binning” refers to the method that the company uses to sort all these LED’s in terms of their dominant wavelength (colour) and luminous flux (brightness). The resultant “bin number” is then used by manufacturers of LED products to specify the colour and brightness of the LED’s they wish to use.
In the case of Tropical Marine Centre, this means that we have been able to specify the exact characteristics of the light we wish to use for the aquarium market, providing a flexible lighting solution that brings both visual appeal (the aquarium looks fantastic!) and high quality, full spectrum light (the animals in the tank are healthier and happier!).
In fact, the bin specifications of the LED’s we use are so precise that we have exclusive supply of these LED’s and they are not available on the general market.
Do Aquaray LEDs emit light in the right spectrum for growing corals and plants?
All the animals normally kept by aquarists, including fish, plants, corals and all invertebrates, ultimately depend on the sun for their well-being. Furthermore, as responsible hobbyists, we all want to provide the animals we keep with conditions that are as close to what they would experience in the wild as possible.
When it comes to lighting, this means providing light of the right intensity, with a spectral quality that is as close to natural sunlight as we can make it.
When viewed through a spectroscope, most artificial lights are visibly different to sunlight (see Fig. 1, 2 and 3 below).
AquaRay LED’s have a much more even spectrum which is much closer to sunlight (see Fig. 4).
Figure 1 – Sunlight
Figure 2 – Standard Metal Halide
Figure 3 – T8 Fluorescent
Figure 4 – AquaBeam 500 Marine White
To what depth will light from an Aquaray light penetrate in my tank?
Single-point white light sources, like Power Led’s, offer two key benefits – firstly, because the light is focussed within a narrow angle , most of the light they emit enters the water surface close to the perpendicular and therefore with very little reflection , and secondly, because the light is emitted at a very cool white temperature and the spectrum is dominated by a strong peak in short blue wavelength, it is at a higher energy level and absorption by the water is minimised and therefore very effective at penetrating deep into the tank.
Given clean, clear water, Marine White AquaBeams should penetrate to a depth of at least one meter. Animals that require intense light, such as most hard corals, should be positioned higher up in the water column, between the surface and about 600mm depth, so that they get the maximum benefit of the light that is emitted at all wavelengths. Increasing the proportion of Blue PowerLEDs will help illuminate deeper tanks where absorption of the longer wavelengths in inevitable.
I understand that LED lights are more cost-effective and energy efficient than other aquarium lights. How do I calculate the true cost of my aquarium lights?
In this time of increased energy costs and the emphasis
If I change the lighting over my tank, how will this affect the animals in the tank?
This is an important consideration which is over-looked by many hobbyists. To get some idea of how lighting can affect plants, fish and corals, imagine what it would be like to be moved instantly from midwinter in Europe, to midsummer in the tropics; many of us might like this idea, but what if we arrived with no sunglasses and no shelter from the fierce tropical sun? Our eyes would be constantly strained from the glare, and we’d soon be disoriented and weakened.
When we change the type of lighting over an aquarium, animals in the aquarium have to make a similar adjustment, and this can initially have an adverse effect on their welfare. This is because artificial aquarium light varies dramatically from one lighting type to another, for example, in spectral quality, intensity and colour temperature.
When changing any of the parameters in an aquarium, it is advisable to try and do this gradually, and lighting is no different. AquaGrow and AquaRay lighting products have been developed to provide aquarium animals with light that is almost identical to the kind of light they would experience in the wild, but, as with any change, allow your tank inhabitants some time to make the adjustment to the new type of light.