Pond Lights

| February 1, 2012

Pond lights illuminate your backyard pond. They allow you to enjoy your pond after the twilight hours and on into the night. By strategically placing pond lights to highlight specific water features and plant life, you can create a very beautiful night time setting.

LED Lights

Probably the best light source to use in aquatic settings. LED lighting can be used as a low wattage alternative to older lighting systems. They are brighter and more energy efficient than incandescent light sources. When used as pond lights, LEDs are advantageous for three reasons:

  • low energy consumption
  • long lifespan
  • small size
  • color

The size can be particularly useful when trying to squeeze a light source into a small space.
LED lights are generally more expensive than Fluorescent or Incandescent lighting. Their performance is well worth the high price.

Fluorescents

Fluorescent lights should not be used when building your pond. Fluorescent lights work by using electricity to heat mercury vapor producing visible light. These lights are very efficient but mercury is poisonous to most life. If one of these lights were to break inside of your pond, it could be very bad for any of your aquatic life. Stay away from using fluorescent lights as pond lights.

Uses of Pond Lights

  • Highlight Water Features
    • The most dramatic way to highlight your water features is to include some pond lights. Fountains, waterfalls, and jets all create dynamic displays at night when lit up by strategically placed lights.
  • Safety
    • Safety is a widely over looked use for pond lights. On a very dark night, it can be hard to see the water’s surface. You can prevent accident and embarrassment for your backyard guests by ensuring that your backyard pond is well lit.
    • Always use a professional to install pond lights unless you really know what you are doing. Working with electricity around water can be extremely dangerous.

Light Placement

Pond lights should be placed in areas where the will accentuate the best features of your pond. Waterfalls, fountains, or groups of aquatic plants can all be lighted to make sure that these areas are noticed even at night.

  • Waterfalls
    • Submerged lights or spotlights can be used to highlight waterfalls. For submerged lights, make sure that you place these at the base of the waterfall. This will ensure that the entire length of the fall is highlighted. Spot lights should be placed behind the waterfall for the most dramatic effects.
  • Fountains
    • Pond lights that highlight fountains can create some of the most dramatic displays imaginable. Consider adding some colored submerged lights around the fountain to make the water glow in a wide arrange of colors.
  • Aquatic plants
    • Don’t forget your aquatic plants when lighting your pond. Floating lilies can have a whole new dimension when highlighted with submerged lighting. For your perimeter plants, consider spotlighting them from the interior pond side to make them glow with light.

Pond lights are one of the easiest ways to make your backyard pond really come alive. Remember to consider this when building your pond to save the time and hassle of installing these lights after your pond is complete.

Category: Pond Equipment

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