Refugium Lighting Question!

[reeffan]

Hello everyone. I just have a question regarding refugium lighting. I currently have a 30 gallon refugium with Caulerpa in it, but not sure what lighting i should use. What would be the recommended lighting for it. Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

 

[TWallace]

http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

That's what I use. It grew grape caulerpa fine. I'm now growing xenia with it, so far so good.

 

[reeffan]

Great link...that would do it. Thank you!

jonathan

 

[OldFishMan]

Hello;

You need blue and red light in the 400-700 range. I would use a couple of cheap GE NO tubes fresh/saltwater Walmart - 9325 Kelvin. I would start with 40-watts for 14-hours and watch growth . Add another bulb if needed for faster growth.

Enjoy!

 

[mfinn]

You can't go wrong with the info at melevsreef.com

 

[bbehring]

Same here I upgraded from a linear CF fixture to the melevsreef light and my cheato growth exploded! It's cheap and I highly recommend it

 

[burning2nd]

im useing the nova t5 stripes..

 

[trillyen]

i just use a standard ENERGY saving flourescent swirly looking bulb, and i grow like 7 different types of macro in my fuge and they all do great!!!

 

[OldFishMan]

Hello;

Yeah --- I use the 26-watt 6500 - Kelvin bulbs for my Reef. I just figured he would have a standard NO fluorescent fixture for that tank.

With these new bulbs and the amount of light they produce, energy savings and lower temps you can't go wrong.

Enjoy!

OFM

 

[tat2z_21]

Sorry to interrupt this post but I have a spare HID XENON that runs at 14k and puts out some serious power. Do you think that this would be to much for a refugium as I wanted to have a couple clams and other light demanding items in my fuge. These lights are intended for a vehicle and was just wondering if the spectrum would be sufficient they are 35w a piece and are very bright. I could even upgrade to the dark purple 30k. Please let me know

 

[OldFishMan]

Hello;

Well, if the bulb is a true 14k bulb and does not emit UVA, UVB, UVC, or X-rays, etc,.

Old unfiltered MH bulbs emitted UV light and many people used them without a UV screen.

It is the quantity of light that matters --- photons --- some photons have more energy than others. Blue 50/50 bulbs and actinic penetrate to deeper levels because blue light is not filtered as readily by water as other wavelengths. You could run any tank on 50/50, actinic, or 20k bulbs --- it is that people want true color of their livestock so they run MH to penetrate to deeper levels.

I would say give it a try and see how the refugium life responds. I would be afraid to comment on the 30k bulb, it is out of the normal spectrum by 10k --- if you try please let me know how the life responds.

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"Put a drop on a slide and look at it with a microscope, if the stuff is moving everything is okay. If is is not moving, change water!"

Enjoy!

OFM