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Aquarium Lighting 101: Find the Right Lighting Ballast for Your Fish Tank!
May 25th, 2009
As many home aquarium enthusiasts can attest, there are few activities more relaxing and purely pleasurable than watching a fish tank full of colorful, gracefully swimming creatures. That probably accounts for the astounding popularity of aquarium keeping in the United States, where the hobby ranks second only to stamp collecting as a favorite pastime and it is estimated that more than ten million households own at least one aquarium.
Even if you’re just getting started with an aquarium, you probably already know about the importance of basics like water conditioner, food, supplements, and tank accessories. However, what some beginners may not know is that the right aquarium lights can also play an important role in the process of proper tank maintenance and upkeep. In fact, experts say that the health and happiness of your fish may suffer if your tank is not properly lit.
Because most home aquariums are kept in enclosed environments that are not exposed to natural light sources, the cycles that govern fish behavior can often be thrown off course. Over time, a lack of defined periods of day and night can lead to problems like stress, failure to thrive, poor appearance, and feeding problems.
The most popular type of sunlight replacement lamps for home aquarium enthusiasts are known as metal halide lamps. Although most use a combination of gases and electricity to create powerful, long-lasting illumination, there are different casings and fixtures that are best suited to different applications. Metal halide bulbs for light ballasts are specially designed to work with basic, light-duty electrical ballasts. For aquarium enthusiasts who are looking for a wider selection of metal halide ballast options, postline, F-core, electronic, and core and coil ballasts are also available. The Fulham line of ballast products offers a number of more advanced options for serious aquarium hobbyists.
Although achieving proper aquarium lighting can be a challenge for those new to the hobby, the entertainment and satisfaction that a thriving tank of healthy fish is likely to bring your family is well worth it. Please contact us if you need help choosing the right lighting products for your aquarium.
Garden Rejuvenation: Landscape Lighting Basics
May 16th, 2009Like most property owners, you’ve probably invested a fair amount of time, money, and resources into beautifying and improving your yard, garden, and landscaping. But if you haven’t given an equal share of attention to the task of properly illuminating your outdoor spaces, you’re probably not getting as much enjoyment from all your hard work as you could be.
These days, your relaxation time on the patio or in the backyard doesn’t have to be cut short just because the sun goes down. With today’s advanced outdoor lighting options, you can continue to make the most of your outdoor living spaces and take in the beauty and splendor of your landscaping and natural features long after the sun dips below the horizon.
Outdoor lighting experts suggest beginning with a primary lighting source that will cast a soft, gentle glow over your outdoor area. After you have settled on your main lighting source, it’s time to choose a few features to highlight with accent lights. Be careful not to overdo it – using too many lights will just detract from the relaxing ambiance you’re aiming for. Next, assess your property’s safety and security needs. It may be a good idea to add extra lighting around paths or steps to help prevent trips and falls.
Finally, if you have any unique or specialty outdoor lighting needs, be sure to check our full selection of products. The popular Focus and RAB lines offer a number of flexible and multi-use outdoor lights that can be adapted to suit virtually any yard’s design needs.
How does lighting figure into your plans for outdoor fun and entertainment this year? Let us know what’s on your itinerary in the comments.
Memorial Day Sale! 10% off on all items until May 31st. Coupon Code: MEMDAY2009BG
Outdoor Lighting: Get Ready for Summer!
May 13th, 2009As temperatures rise and the calendar inches toward Memorial Day, homeowners across the country are beginning to deck out their outdoor living spaces and lay in supplies for summer fun. Although outdoor lighting options may not seem like an obvious candidate for the top of your shopping list, finding the right lighting can make all the difference when it comes to creating a cozy, versatile space. This grab bag of popular outdoor lighting options can help transform your deck, patio, or backyard into an inviting oasis.
The right outdoor fixtures can add a stylish, pulled-together look to even the humblest outdoor space, and ample illumination can significantly extend the usability of your yard by allowing your gatherings and get-togethers to last long past sundown.
If your family’s grillmaster is already planning this summer’s menus, spruce up your barbecue area with task lighting specially designed to enhance outdoor grills. These lights can help you grill long after the sun goes down and make your after-dark cooking sessions safer, too. Get an additional 10% off on all items until May 31st. Coupon Code: MEMDAY2009BG
Bring the ambiance of an elegant indoor parlor to your deck or patio with Focus recessed deck lights. These lights direct a small but powerful beam of light onto dark or ill-lit areas of your outdoor living space, improving safety without adding an overly harsh glow. Get an additional 10% off on all items until May 31st. Coupon Code: MEMDAY2009BG
Bathe your flowerbeds, foliage, and other landscape features in light with Focus landscape and outdoor lighting. Whether you want to illuminate a footpath, add a gentle glow to your garden, or even practice your putt after sundown, there’s a Focus outdoor lighting product that’s bound to be perfect for your project. Get an additional 10% off on all items until May 31st. Coupon Code: MEMDAY2009BG
What’s your most pressing outdoor lighting challenge? Tell us all about it in the comments.
Going Green: Choosing Energy-Efficient Lighting For Your Home or Business
May 2nd, 2009It seems like everywhere you turn these days, you find another product or celebrity pitch geared to convince homeowners and business proprietors to make the switch to eco-friendly consumer goods and lifestyle choices. If you’re just jumping onto the green bandwagon, it’s easy to fall prey to information overload and wind up feeling confused. Furthermore, many consumers are still skeptical about the impact that small changes – such as selecting a different style of light bulb – can really have.
Choosing earth-friendly lighting options may not feel like a major step forward, but behavioral experts say that when it comes to making lasting lifestyle changes, incremental “baby steps” are often the best way to get started. Plus, budget-conscious business owners and frugal homeowners alike can benefit from the cost savings that energy-efficient lighting options often provide.
Ready to explore the brave new world of green lighting options? Here are a few popular products that can help you save the earth – and save some money on energy costs, as well.
• LED Lighting – The same technology that has long been used to power displays on electronic appliances and gadgets has now been repurposed for residential and commercial use. These lights use a fraction of the energy consumed by conventional and even fluorescent lights and are best used for task lighting, accent lighting, and other applications in smaller spaces.
• Fluorescent Twist Bulbs – If you’re looking for the simplest way to make the switch to a more earth-friendly form of lighting, fluorescent twist bulbs are probably your best bet. With just a flick of the wrist, you can easily replace the energy-hungry incandescent bulbs around your home or business. As an added bonus, most fluorescent twist bulbs have a much longer lifespan than their standard incandescent counterparts.
• Compact Fluorescent Lamps – These bulbs offer the same versatility and convenience as fluorescent twist bulbs, although the technology and design they use to achieve energy savings differs slightly. CFLs can be used to replace incandescent bulbs in many standard fixtures, although they outlast the lifespan of the standard incandescent bulb by an average of 10 to 1 in most laboratory evaluations.
• Fluorescent Circline Lamps – Looking for a low-cost, energy-efficient solution for task lighting? A fluorescent circline lamp might be just what you need. These specialty bulbs are formed in a round shape that allows them to fit in fixtures that are too small for standard fluorescent bulbs, hence the term circline. They are commonly used for desk lamps, spotlights, and other task lighting applications.
• Standard and Specialty Fluorescent Bulbs – After years of grabbing a box of incandescent bulbs at your local grocery store or discount emporium, your first experience shopping for replacement fluorescent bulbs may be a bit confusing. Take your fixture or bulb to the store with you to eliminate guesswork, or better yet, rely on an online vendor so you can find the right model number with a minimum of effort.
Do you have any questions or concerns about green lighting options? Let us know in the comments.
Why Use Tritium Exit Signs?
May 15th, 2007The Tritium Exit Sign is a great, effective solution for any business in all aspects of mandatory compliance with emergency lighting codes. These high quality exit signs are entirely self-luminous and require no electricity, back-up batteries or generators. Powered by tritium gas, they provide long-term illumination without electrical power. Because of its very low energy level, tritium is one of the safest radioactive materials and is approved by Federal Authorities for use in self-luminous exit signs in commercial buildings.
These signs remain lighted continuously, though you won’t detect any illumination during daylight hours or in brightly lit rooms. In addition, self-luminous signs will maintain their illumination day and night for up to 10 or 20 years, depending on the model you choose. This no-cost, maintenance-free operation saves you money while providing safe and reliable exit location identification. And, it can be mounted anywhere without wiring or outlets, needs no maintenance and is specifically constructed to resist tampering and vandalism. We offer red or green signs with your choice of white or black housing, and products are ready to ship same day.
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