What are Kelvins, Lumens, Nanometers, & PAR..? (Aquarium Lighting 101)

Are you an aquarium enthusiast struggling to understand the technical jargon surrounding aquarium lighting? Look no further! In this video, we will take a deep dive into the world of aquarium lighting and explain the various units of measurement used to determine the right type of lighting for different types of aquatic life.

My favourite lights are:

We'll start by discussing the importance of aquarium lighting and how it affects the growth and overall health of your aquatic friends. We'll explain the various units of measurement, including kelvins, nanometer wavelengths, PAR, Lumens, LUX, and wattage, and how they are used to measure different aspects of aquarium lighting.

We'll go in-depth into kelvins, which measure the color temperature of light and help you choose the right lighting for different types of plants and animals. We'll discuss nanometer wavelengths and PAR and how they are used to determine the amount of light plants need for optimal growth.

We'll also talk about LUX and Lumens, which are used to determine the amount of light that falls on a surface, and the total amount of photons emitted by a light source, respectively. We'll explain how LUX and Lumens can be affected by factors like the distance between the light source and the surface and the amount of light absorbed or reflected by other objects in the environment.

Finally, we'll explain why wattage, although still listed on many aquarium lights, is becoming an outdated unit of measurement in the world of aquarium lighting.

By the end of this video, you'll have a better understanding of the technical terms and units of measurement floating around in the world of aquarium lighting. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be able to make an informed choice when selecting the right lighting for your aquatic friends.

So, if you're ready to learn all about kelvins, PAR, LUX, and more, sit back, relax, and join us on this journey through the science of aquarium lighting!

As ever, please like, subscribe and hit the notification bell.

Thanks for watching!!!

[mmoolloo]

Let me preface this by saying that this is an awesome video and I sincerely admire your ability to condense so much information into simple, understandable "snippets" (I thought this would be a 30 min. video when I read the title). However, I think you should have gone harder against the "lumens per liter" measurement. I've always been against that sort of measurement because the amount of usable energy for the plants varies widely depending on the depth of the tank. This is exacerbated by the presence of things like tannins in the water. For example: I have a 120 l (30 gal) extra tall tank with tons of wood which means that the water is quite tinted. It's also 70 cm deep, so growing a carpet is basically impossible without frying the floaters/epiphytes that are closer to the surface. With the same lumens/liter, I'd be able to grow a beautiful carpet in a wider (shallow) tank with clear water. My point is basically that any light intensity measurement that takes into account the volume of the tank is flawed from the get-go.
Once again, I loved your video and it is probably the smartest way to explain this topic to most people since tanks are fairly standard, but there are some caveats that are very important and I think folks should be aware of them.

[faheemashraf]

This is why I love your content. You do the research that helps us all. Thank you for simplifying it for us.👍

[twistedpenguin]

Is rotala macrandra really hard to growth? I would like to see you set up known hard to growth plants.

[Sinserg]

I think that most manufacturers don't give out all the information and rather have us trying with different lights, until we find something that satisfies our needs, spending lots of money along the way of course. 🙄