Artificial pond - an indispensable thing in landscape design. It complements the plot, makes the garden more natural, and the sound of the water soothes and relaxes. In order to admire him at night, set the backlight. So the pond will look more fabulous and mysterious. Although this will require a little effort - the result will definitely please you.

Types of lighting for the pond

All lighting sources for ponds and pools are divided into 3 groups:

• underwater;
• surface;
• floating.

Important! Installing underwater lighting yourself is best at the stage of installation of the pump and other equipment.

There is a huge number of fixtures, each of them has its advantages and disadvantages:

1. Incandescent lamps - one of the budget options. But in order to place them near the water, they must be reliably protected from moisture and dirt. Also cons include their fragility, a small selection of colors, as well as high energy consumption.
2. Halogen lamps - they are installed on the shore. They are good because they provide powerful lighting, and due to the variety of filters you can change colors. But for their operation also need a protective housing. The disadvantage is high electricity consumption and high price.
3. LEDs - One of the best ideas for highlighting. Easy to connect and use. LED tapes are quite flexible, so they can be installed in ponds of any shape. They have a large variety of colors and are quite economical.LED lamps, unlike others, do not attract insects.
4. Floating lights - they are equipped with floats, thanks to which they stay on the water. During the wind, they will swim in the pond, creating a mysterious atmosphere. They are easy to install with your own hands for convenience and economy; it is better to purchase them on solar panels.
5. Optical fiber - made of a searchlight, which is connected to many transparent, light-transmitting veins. It can be used in wet conditions.

Surface lighting

Surface lights are the safest because they do not touch the surface of the water. Unfortunately, they can only illuminate the surface of the water. They are installed much easier than underwater. Electrical appliances must be well protected from water and intact, so check their quality before buying.

Round lanterns that are placed on the water are very popular. They create a cozy and magical atmosphere. To illuminate the coast in stores, you can buy lanterns for every taste, for example, in the form of beautiful figures or stones, as well as ordinary classic ones.

Underwater lighting

Underwater lights do a much better job of lighting. Rays go deep through the water column, making the pond more voluminous. You can add effect if you place stones, algae at the bottom. These lamps are sealed.

It is best to install them at a depth of not more than 1 m so that the light is visible. For the fountain, you can choose rotating lights, they can shine in several colors.

Lighting requirements

Electrical appliances that come in contact with water must meet a number of requirements:

1. Their moisture resistance should be at least IP67 or IP68. Number 6 is the level of protection of the flashlight when interacting with solid objects, that is, its stability. 7 - means that the device is protected from water during diving to a depth of less than 1 m. 8 - the lamp can be placed without problems at a depth of 1 m. This means that to create underwater lighting it is necessary to take IP68 class lamps.
2. The lamp housing must be tight.
3. To protect themselves and the inhabitants of the pond, the device must operate at low power - 12 or 24 V.
4. The flow of light should be bright and uniform.

How to choose lights for a pond

To design garden ponds, you can use absolutely any light fixtures. Starting from simple lanterns to colorful floating balls.

Before choosing, pay attention to such characteristics:

• voltage;
• insulation quality;
• power;
• length (if it is LED strip).

Important! You need to choose lighting for a decorative pond after consulting with a landscape designer. He will help you choose the devices and tell you how to install them correctly.

You can also find fog generators on sale. They not only give a mystical look, but also have a beneficial effect on human health. If you have already decided on the choice of lighting, check that the kit contains everything you need to connect.

General rules for installing lighting for a pond

Of course, in order not to waste your time and energy, it is best to entrust the installation of lighting on the summer cottage to specialists. But on the other hand, modern underwater lights have installation instructions and all the necessary spare parts, so you can do it yourself.

Did you know? LED backlight does not pollute the environment and improves energy efficiency.

But for this it is necessary to observe safety precautions, namely:

• insulation must comply with the rules for the operation of lighting devices;
• the electrical network must have a protective blackout so that in the event of a power leak, the system will shut down;
• protective shutdown device should be placed away from water so that water does not get on it;
• cables must also comply with the rules of use;
• for flashlights of small power, a cable with a section of 2 × 1.5 mm is enough;
• take care of high-quality insulation of the wiring, problems most often arise in the place where the wires connect;
• for pools, it is best to install lighting around the entire perimeter, so that a person perfectly sees everything in the dark;
• Do not forget that bright light can be harmful to the eyes. Install the lights so that they do not blind.

Highlighting ponds is a great solution to make your garden sparkle with new colors. If you decide to install this element on your personal site or cottage, take care of this moment in advance before installing the pond itself, and also do not forget about safety measures. If you decide to carry out the work yourself, carefully read all the instructions, then your work will not go down the drain.