What Is Underwater Lighting?

Adding a water feature to your garden landscaping can greatly enhance it. Putting in lighting can change from an ordinary garden to extraordinary. If you are looking to make your garden extraordinary with arbor and water feature lighting in Fort Worth and Dallas, TX, reach out to the experts at Majestic Outdoor Lighting. You can find out more about what we can do for you by calling (817) 345-3696.

What do I need for a water feature?

From fountains to streams to pools or ponds, water features can greatly enhance almost any type of landscaping. Before you get started adding a water feature, however, you’re going to have to put a great deal of thought and planning into it. You’re going to have to consider such things as your water supply, as well as where to place water feature lighting to get the best aesthetic effect and what type of lighting you’re going to use. As far as water supply goes, unless you are building from scratch, many off-the-shelf water features are self-contained, so you won’t need a separate water source. 

You will, however, need an electrical source for the lighting as well as to power pumps and other mechanisms if your water feature moves water in any way. You’re also going to have to consider maintenance and cleaning. The water and containers will get slimy and the sump will have to be cleaned. If the feature is under or near plants you’ll also have to clear out leaves. And, of course, you’ll have to keep in mind safety, especially when children are around.

Water feature lighting ideas

When adding a water feature, lighting will greatly enhance it. While some off-the-shelf water features will have built-in lighting, anything custom-made will require lighting to be added. If you want to light up a water feature, here are some ideas and tips about how to do so:

• Keep your purpose in mind. What’s the light being used for? Go out in your garden at night with a flashlight and experiment with the lighting, casting the flashlight at various angles and from various areas in the garden.
• Consider all the angles. Set up lighting in areas where the garden is most viewed.
• Determine whether the lighting should be in or out of the water.
• Carefully place your fixtures so they will best highlight your features. Use lighting above and below features for the best illumination.
• Keep the lights maintained. Both underwater and above ground lighting need to be well maintained. Inspect and clean the lighting twice yearly, preferably in the spring and fall.

Do LED lights penetrate water?

Some of the best lights for water feature lighting are LED lights. LED lighting penetrates water very well—it’s why people prefer LED spotlights when fishing at night. These lights are also some of the most energy-efficient available, and when placed in a water feature, they will not change the water temperature. You’ll also get about 100,000 hours of use as compared to standard lighting like halogen lamps that will give you 10,000 to 20,000 of use.

LED water feature bubble lighting

One water feature that’s growing in popularity is LED bubble lighting. This is primarily an indoor feature, however, that usually consists of water-filled panels that bubble and are lit with various colored LED lights.

How do you light a waterfall?

Waterfalls can be very aesthetically attractive water features. They are visually pleasing and the sound of falling water can be soothing and block outside noises. When lighting a waterfall, you’ll want to use at least one light per waterfall or stream. For best effect, place the lights behind the waterfall or just underneath it. A wider waterfall might require two or more lights. You want to capture the whole waterfall in light. Use both puck lights and spotlights for lighting. The puck lights fit flat on the ground and are best for illuminating water from underneath the falls. Spotlights are good for highlighting rippling water or lighting up boulders or aquatic plants.

How do you illuminate a fountain?

When you are illuminating a fountain, for water feature lighting, you want to use submersible uplights. These types of lights will highlight the feature as well as diffuse the light. You’ll want to use bright lighting, and you can also use colored lighting. The positioning of the lights is key for the best effects. Test different angles using a flashlight to find the best positions for your lights.