Aquarium Products
Aquaray Solid State Lighting
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "
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.
is regarded as important for 2 reasons:
1. It creates a more realistic and natural appearance to the
aquarium.
2. 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.
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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 Omnidirectional (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.
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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.
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How many AquaBeam 500 units will I
need for my marine aquarium?
For a FULL REEF aquarium (fish and invertebrates):
1 x AquaBeam 500 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.
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How many GroBeam 500 units will I need for my tropical or planted
aquarium?
For a TROPICAL aquarium (fish and plants):
1 x AquaBeam 500 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.
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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:
1. 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.
2. The design of the AquaRay range of light units ensures that
any heat generated by the LEDs 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.
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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:
1. Marine White - this is a cool white diode, specially
selected for brightness and is rated at 14000 Kelvin.
2. 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?"
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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.
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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.
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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:
a. The GroBeam range
of lighting products use specially selected Power LEDs 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 GroBeam 500 and GroBeam 1000.
b. 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 HD Ultra 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 LEDs.
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 HD Ultra Range
This unit measures 200mm x 200mm x 50mm and has ten power LEDs 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!
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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 LEDs 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
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To what depth will light from an AquaRay light penetrate in my tank?
Single-point white light sources, like Power LEDs, 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.
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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.
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I keep hearing that LEDs come from "bins", and
other references to "binning" or "bin numbers" -
what does this mean?
Tropical Marine Centre only use LEDs (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 LEDs, and the term "binning"
refers to the method that the company uses to sort all these LEDs 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 LEDs 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 LEDs we use are so precise that
we have exclusive supply of these LEDs and they are not available on
the general market.
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