reeftank1
Do you digiscope?
What would be the best K for keeping chaeto growing.
Best bulb for Chaeto
- Thread starter reeftank1
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Krish
RF STAFF
I've heard people having all sorts of success with different bulbs, but here's something you may want to check out in the meantime
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html
LakeEd
Achilles
Up until last week, I was using the 5700K bulb in the article Krish linked for you... and was VERY happy with it!
I am testing a new fixture out now... but only because my Fuge went from a 10gallon Fuge, to a 40gallon one... so I'm trying out a larger exterior flood-light type fixture now.
I am testing a new fixture out now... but only because my Fuge went from a 10gallon Fuge, to a 40gallon one... so I'm trying out a larger exterior flood-light type fixture now.
Grey Legion
Proud member of The MFC
I think almost anything will work, but 6700K is used for most FW planted tanks so something in that range may be well suited..
reeftank1
Do you digiscope?
Thanks Krish, Ed and Greg. I am planning to set-up something for my 300 and just haven't got it together yet. I do have the chaeto but need to buy a descent light. This is great info though. thanks
Reefdaddy1
Reef Geek Jedi
300 Gallon? How big will the Fuge be? Running PC's like Krish showed would be cool on smaller tank/fuge area and would highly recommend them, however for a 300 gallon Iam sure your Guge will at least .....what.....75Gallon or more? I would look very much other chices for size of that magnitude, t-5 or VHO would be wise, VHO more so, they are readily available at Home depot for a song. Thats what I use on my tank, on my 55 gallons I used the PC that Krish showed, It worked great, But being 300 gallon I would look ta something that coverd more area. for sure.
reeftank1
Do you digiscope?
Big.....that is going to be my problem as I am limited by space. Are not we all!!!!I will post a thread for design ideas I guess. My tank is 8x2x2'. Under the stand I have a barracuda pushing and OM 4-way, my iwaki/skimmer, then the sump and on the other end the iwaki return and a Ca reactor. With all this life support - I have about a 10"x20"x20 tall space. It may make 30 gallons if I would be really lucky but then this kills access to my return pump/manifold.
Remote - an option I guess but I will drag these problems to the design forum
Remote - an option I guess but I will drag these problems to the design forum
Reefdaddy1
Reef Geek Jedi
Man tht really limits your space for a descent Fuge doesnt it/ I would look at maybe reconfig of your plumbing. FOr a 300 gallon I would at least want more then a 30 gallon can offer, But sometimes we have to make do. It maybe best to rethink with assitance in the tank design area I agree, Pics would help as well.
Bob
Bob
Krish
RF STAFF
I see what Bob is getting at and wondered if you will be using a skimmer? If so, a skimmer for a 300 gal tank won't be a small skimmer IMO and therefore you may have to really plan out things good to use a bigger sump to house one if it will be an in-sump skimmer. If an external skimmer, then that is more space lost again for a bigger sump as you will have to jam an external skimmer under the stand as well taking up space that could be used for a bigger sump. Just a thought...
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wrightme43
Well-known member
I know this will sound bizare. A guy named Luke on here mentioned that the really cheap compact flouresnt bulbs in a flood light housing at Lowes work better than anything. I though he was crazy, how in the world could a little 36 watt bulb outperform my 96 watt compact flour. aquarium fixture. Just because I am a butthead and just mainly to prove him wrong, I tried it. It does work a whole lot better. The chaeto grows twice as fast, and more importantly it grows alot thicker, and stronger threads. It is a much darker green, and seems to me to be alot more effective. It is a very very yellow light, with lots of red in it. Oddly enough the reason we see plants as green is they are reflecting the green light that they dont need and cant use to our eyes. The other spectrums of light they are absorbing and using for energy. So it does stand to my reasoning that a heavy Yellow/Red light would grow a algae better.
Feel free to flame me for agreeing with Luke. However he was defitely right on this one, as far as I can determine.
Steve
Feel free to flame me for agreeing with Luke. However he was defitely right on this one, as far as I can determine.
Steve
Sherman
Has Met Willis
Steve, you're probably referring to the "Lights of America" fluorescent flood. They're pretty popular among reefers.
Reeftank1, your dimensions of 8x2x2 makes that tank a 240, not a 300. Not that a 240 is anything to sneeze at, that's a nice tank! For space under the tank, have you considered vertical space, as well as the footprint? Maybe shelves or some other way to stack components. As an example, my calcium reactor's second chamber is a piece of 2" clear PVC, and it hangs horizontally, because I didn't have the space for another chamber anywhere else.
As for Kelvin rating, the lower Kelvin, the more punch. Think "Yellow power!" 6700K is "daylight white" but even lower would probably yield even better results, as there would be more PAR.
Reeftank1, your dimensions of 8x2x2 makes that tank a 240, not a 300. Not that a 240 is anything to sneeze at, that's a nice tank! For space under the tank, have you considered vertical space, as well as the footprint? Maybe shelves or some other way to stack components. As an example, my calcium reactor's second chamber is a piece of 2" clear PVC, and it hangs horizontally, because I didn't have the space for another chamber anywhere else.
As for Kelvin rating, the lower Kelvin, the more punch. Think "Yellow power!" 6700K is "daylight white" but even lower would probably yield even better results, as there would be more PAR.
Murfman
Well-known member
I am using a compact PC that is rated at 14W and 3500K. It works as well as the 75W PC I had from lights of America.
