How to Choose Light for a Planted Aquarium

When riding a planted aquarium, we must consider a fundamental factor along with subscribers and co2, this factor is lighting. Plants as living beings, need light to carry out metabolic processes that favor its development, we, as fans, we should try to bring to our plants enough light and quality so that in a closed environment and artificial, like aquarium moonlight lighting, as our aquarium develop in the best possible way.

Whenever we talk about enlightenment, some terms that cannot read or know just appearing. These terms are linked to the quality and quantity of light that we bring to our plants, so it is useful to know that it is used and for each of them.

CRI or CRI: Color Rendering Index; it is the ability of a lamp to reflect the colors as if they were viewed with natural light. In the lamps I is represented by a number from 0 to 9, with the lamps with the common market CRI 8. How about the aquarium waterproof LED light?

COLOR TEMPERATURE: Refers to the color emitted by a black body heated to a certain temperature. It is expressed in degrees Kelvin (° K). In planted aquariums it has been recommended color temperatures around 6500 ° K, but as we will see is not a factor that determines the quality of light, just its color. In the tubes, I am represented by the two figures accompanying the IRC. Both compact and the led bulb color temperature usually come specified. In high intensity, we ask the seller the color temperature of said LED.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM: Serious electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by a substance. The human eye perceives the spectrum from 400-700nm. This will be the most important to consider when installing our lighting system aspect with powerful suction cups, since the plants will depend develop properly.