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Metal Halide Aquarium Light

Tech Geek — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 06:25:28 +0000

Reef aquarium lighting is often a hotly debated topic by many aquarium owners because of the difficulty faced with keeping reefs. It is best to match the lighting to what kind of corals you keep in your tank, and do extensive research before making your selection. After all, you want to make sure all living life in your fish tank stays alive and well. You also want to make sure your aquarium looks nice, and doesn’t cost too much to maintain (different types of lighting take up different amounts of energy). When you go to make your decision, there are four basic types of lighting to choose from.

These are the four main aquarium lighting situations you have to consider:

A freshwater fish tank with no live plants.

This can be lit with fluorescent lamps, with or without color enhancement.

A freshwater fish tank with live plants.

A metal halide aquarium light system can work with live plants. If going with the fluorescent lights, you must use multiple tubes to provide enough light for the plants. The aquarium light bulbs should also be full spectrum, so the plants can complete photosynthesis. If you don’t make sure the bulbs are full spectrum, the plants may die.

A saltwater fish tank with only fish.

These can be lit with either fluorescent lamps in NO or VHO.

A saltwater reef or semi reef tank with corals, invertebrates, and fish.

These aquariums are not for the beginner, and will need very intense, high quality lighting, including VHO or Metal-Halide systems. Be sure you have had experience with fish tanks before (or are ready to take on quite a challenge).

Whatever kind of aquarium you have, be sure to consult with a professional before moving forward. This is an expensive and serious hobby, and should be treated seriously. Good luck!

Sylvania Under Cabinet Light With Motion Sensor

Tech Geek — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:41:18 +0000

Cabinets and countertops can be difficult to properly light. Who wants to have a desk lamp sitting on their kitchen counter? While some people use whatever they can find, there is actually a light product designed for exactly this problem. A company called Sylvania makes an LED under cabinet light which is motion sensitive. The puck-style light modules come in a pack of three and can be placed under or within cabinets. We all know how annoying it can be to find a certain glass or pot in a dark cabinet. A single Sylvania LED light can solve this problem. These super bright light modules turn on when you open the cabinet, allowing you both hands to grab what you need.

Sylvania lights also work great for countertops too. When you turn down the lights at night and want a midnight snack, these lights can provide light in just the right place so you don’t have to turn on the big lights and wake everyone up. Other uses include storage cabinets, sheds, closets and more. These lights require no complicated installation as they are powered by three AA batteries. You can adhere the lighting modules with tape, or use the built-in magnets to attach them to any metal surface. The sleek black finish goes well in just about any environment.

You’ll be surprised at just how bright these wireless lights are. In many ways they are superior to standard wired cabinet lights. Wired light systems can’t compare to the flexibility that these lights provide. In just a few moments the light module can be moved to a new location if needed. Because they’re equipped with LED bulbs, they will last many years before needing bulb replacement. Three easy-to-find and cost effective AA batteries are all that is needed to power each light.

How Technology Changes Lighting Fixtures

Tech Geek — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:30:39 +0000

In a home the areas needing the most intense lighting are the kitchen and the bathroom. In most businesses, all areas need intense light, however many business owners find that their bathroom lights are a big part of their energy cost, as those lights sometimes stay on all day.

In the last few years lighting fixtures have changed both as technology has advanced and public opinion changed. Whether people agree or not on global warming, one thing most homeowners and business owners agree on, is that the cost of energy is high, and anything done to reduce it, is worth considering. In many businesses lights are left on all day, it is little wonder than business owners want to reduce their energy consumption. This is one of the reasons they are taking a second look at their bathroom lighting fixtures.

Most businesses and especially homeowners are not willing to sacrifice style or quality to reduce their energy costs, therefore manufacturers of lighting fixtures have had to work hard towards bathroom and
kitchen lighting that satisfied both style and energy saving.

Some of the ways manufacturers have found to reduce energy consumption was to change the design of light covers. They are currently using light covers that better reflect light and direct it more where it is needed. They have also turned their attention to better bulbs, using lower wattage but delivering more light intensity. Today’s bulbs can replicate sunlight (white light) much better than they did a few year ago.

If you still have old lighting fixtures in your home or business, you should have a look at the new design of light covers which in conjunction with new light bulbs allow homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy costs. Sometimes it might be beneficial to invest in new fixtures, in spite of the replacement costs to save in the long run in operating costs.