A HUGE tropical fish lagoon is being brightly illuminated with new high-tech sustainable lights.
The Deep`s Lagoon of Light display,which features vivid colours and 66 species of animals,is floodlit by a light-emitting diodes(LEDs),which have been supplied by Hull firm Bonus Electrical.
TOTALLY TROPICAL:From left,assistant curator Andrew McLeod and Bonus Electrical sales manager Rob Carter at the brightly lit Lagoon of Light at The Deep.Picture:Kate Woolhouse
The environmentally friendly lights at the landmark centre offer a more sustainable way of lighting the lagoon,lasting up to ten times longer than the lamps they replaced and offering an 80 per cent reduction in energy use.
Aquarists at The Deep said the new lights,which run in two lines above the water tank,help recreate a tropical habitat common to the species in the lagoon.
Andrew Mcleod,assistant curator at The Deep,said:"The Lagoon of Light is a tropical fish display,where bright,light conditions are needed.
"These advanced LEDs provide a very intense,vivid type of light that recreates the environment you find on a tropical island where there is a great deal of sunshine."
The intensity of the 14 LED floodlights means the light is able to penetrate the surface of the water and properly illuminate the 200,000-litre tank.
It allows visitors looking through the tank`s glass walls to see in great detail the lagoon`s coral reef and the colours of 1,100 fish,such as surgeonfish and lipstick tangs.
The LEDs have a life-span of several years,compared with 12 months for the halide lamps the technology has replaced.
Given the power of the LEDs,which are a fraction of the wattage of a traditional light bulb,fewer bulbs are needed.And as LEDs produce a negligible amount of heat,The Deep is no longer required to reduce the temperature in the areas using the lights by air conditioning–saving yet more energy.
The Deep calculates the individual LED installations are already offering a 50 per cent cost reduction on the previous halide lamps.
Mr Mcleod said:"We have considered LEDs before but have been waiting for the technology`s development and progress.
"Now,the designs have become a lot more advanced and these particular high-power floodlights offer the type of intensity we need."
Bonus Electrical is now working with The Deep on further applications for the LEDs,from installation in the car parks to being used to grow coral in captivity.
Rob Carter,sales manager of Bonus Electrical,said:"As the use at The Deep shows,there is no downside to advanced LED technology,which offers a sustainable,energy-efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional lighting.
"This is particularly important at The Deep,where the lights are on for 12 hours every day and have to be reliable,environmentally friendly and not impact on the marine life.
"We`re delighted to have supplied to such an iconic attraction and look forward to working with The Deep on rolling out the LEDs to more areas and applications."
