Choosing Pond Lights | Pond Light Selection Guide
Garden Pond Lights Enhance A Pond Landscape
The sheer addition of a garden pond to a garden often turns a rather dull and boring back yard into a hive of activity and sound. This is all well and good during daylight hours but what about during the night time? There is an easy way to fix this problem. Pond Lighting will add a touch of ambience during night time to any pond; whether it is a small garden pond or a large pond situated in a public park.
There are many varieties of pond lighting available to water gardening enthusiasts. So no matter what type of atmosphere or show you are trying to create it is definitely possible. Many styles of pond lights will further enhance existing waterfalls, Pond Plants and the general pond landscape. Well positioned pond lights add iridescence to the water.
The addition of lighting will turn what appears to be a rather quiet and tranquil pond environment into what it actually is: a hive of activity where fish, frogs and other aquatic life forms carry out there day to day activities.
The choice of pond lighting is extensive and includes the following types: external pond lights, spotlights, submersible spotlights, floating lights, coloured lights and pond UV lights.
Solar Pond Lighting
Not so many years ago solar pond equipment was a rarity and more of a novelty item that a practical and functional piece of water gardening equipment. Things have moved on and solar pond lights are quite popular as well as being a way to illuminate your garden pond at night. The biggest advantage is that they offer extremely low running costs when compared with mains operated pond lights. They are also wire-less so you don't have to go to the trouble of hiding ugly electrical wiring.
Providing that you locate solar pond lights in a place where they receive adequate exposure during daylight hours (to recharge the batter cells) they are a great way to provide both ambient and accent lighting. The one downside is that they are not as bright as mains powered alternatives.
Submersible Ponds AKA Underwater Pond Lighting
Underwater pond lights or submersible pond lights should be located where the light will be freely visible. You certainly don't want the light to be blocked out by your pond pump, plant pots/crates, pipe work and decorative water fountains etc. You need to keep the pond water free from suspended algae (green free pond water) and as transparent and clear as possible. You will also have to occasionally remove weeds and other debris that has attached itself to your submersible pond lighting.
Many submersible underwater lighting systems come with a timing device that ensures that they only come on for a specified period. This helps to reduce running costs; an important consideration for any piece of pond keeping equipment. If you want a different effect for your pond then change the location of the submersible lights. By placing the under water lights at the pond bottom or pond sides or by placing the lights near to a waterfall or water fountain you can create totally different effects.
Floating Pond Lights
Often disguised as a floating lily plant these decorative pond lights add a magical touch of colourful light to any water garden or garden pond. The advantage of this type of pond light is that it serves a purpose during daylight hours too.
During the day the light still acts as a decorative pond feature. They are usually supplied with a transformed and prerequisite electrical wiring and are a popular way in which to light up a water garden.
UV (Ultraviolet) Pond Lights
A Pond UV light (ultraviolet) provides a totally different type of ambience than visible light. It is invisible to the naked eye but can often be recognised at night time when it causes insects to glow. Some insects actually glow in UV light. Be careful however, to not mistake UV pond lighting with the type of light used in UV pond filters (ultra violet pond filters). The type of light used to clarify pond water is extremely dangerous to the naked eye.
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