Refugium Lighting

[user 2204]

Hello to All. I just finished converting an Aquaclear 110 into a refugium (pics in later topic) and I am currently using a nice little CF clip light that I found from Ikea. The bulb is a standard 6500k CF mini bulb and does okay over the fuge.

My Questions are;
*Why we choose to use such a lower kelvin rated bulb for these refugium algaes?
*Don't these algaes come from the same reefs that our corals come from?
*What would happen if some of the algaes were to be on a 50/50 bulb or maybe even a 10k bulb?

I am just curious as I have added some Halimeda spp. (aka Money Plant) to my HOB fuge for the Project MB7 and I have thought about using my refugium on my 65 gallon tank as a possible frag holding area once I have that tank up and running.

Thanks for the information and advice in advance and as I mentioned I am just curious more than anything.
Alex

 

[user 2204]

Forgot to ask what the normal wattage is used when lighting a refugium as well? I assume that somewhere between a 7 watt - 13 watt would suffice for a very small fuge.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[alki]

Growing plants like lower K bulbs. We dont use in the aquarium often because they look yellow.

Freshwater tanks (when they grow plants and stuff) almost always use lower k bulbs.

50/50 or 10k would work also, but they growth would probably slow down.

I used the 10 watt cfl from homedepot and it wasnt good for me. My chaeto slowly shrunk. Now I use a standard grow culb, not cfl.

 

[beoks]

this should answer some questions
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

 

[user 2204]

this should answer some questions
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

Yes, Good site and I have read it a few times. Very good info.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[alki]

6500K is usual for freshwater and is WAY more yellow than 10K and up.

 

[user 2204]

Growing plants like lower K bulbs. We dont use in the aquarium often because they look yellow.

Freshwater tanks (when they grow plants and stuff) almost always use lower k bulbs.

50/50 or 10k would work also, but they growth would probably slow down.

I used the 10 watt cfl from homedepot and it wasnt good for me. My chaeto slowly shrunk. Now I use a standard grow culb, not cfl.

Understandable as to the yellow, but these algae species that we are attempting to grow and harvest do come from the same seas as the corals that we grow and farm.

I know that when I've gone scuba diving I've seen some of these algae right beside the corals in full sun and all. I just find it interesting that they grow different in our aquariums. Just my opinions.

Good info though and I thank everyone for input and ideas.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[alki]

True, but take a look at the sun. Its quite a bit yellow. Plus corals look WAAY batter with higher k, thats why we use them

My thoughts.

 

[user 2204]

6500K is usual for freshwater and is WAY more yellow than 10K and up.

Very true indeed. I personally am using a very white light on my very small hob fuge and I have found the algae is growing good thus far and also have found some zoa people eaters growing on the rocks. Unknown what exact color they are but they look to be red PE zoas.
I probably will be changing the bulb over later on just to see what and how things grow in that manner in a fuge. Is it going to be a good thing? Only time shall tell.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[alki]

The one thing I know for a fact is that the same lights on different setups will do different things.

I have learned this the hard way. That is I have alot of extra stuff!

 

[user 2204]

True, but take a look at the sun. Its quite a bit yellow. Plus corals look WAAY batter with higher k, thats why we use them

My thoughts.

Sun is yellow, but in the waters on the coral reefs the light that the corals do get is not so yellow. I've seen first hand the corals such as the Sea Fans and SPS colors under water in the Caribean and can say those are magnificent.

Any ways, off the subject of coral grow and colors and back to the fuge lighting. *lol*

Cheers,
Alex

 

[user 2204]

The one thing I know for a fact is that the same lights on different setups will do different things.

I have learned this the hard way. That is I have alot of extra stuff!

*lol* Don't we all have a lot of extras?

 

[jaysauce]

Do you have you pics for converting the ac110 into a fuge? and how you did it?

Thanks!

 

[lvsuckerfish]

it will all grow the same IMO i think most use lower k rated bulbs because hard to find a standard florecent bulb in 10 k or 20k. I would say cost is the big difference. I used hot5s and compacts over my fuges I plan on doing the same with this build also. I have a retro compact set up I plan on using ntil the bulb dies it will stay on the fuge and hot5 for the turf scrubber.

 

[IWishIWasAFish]

I read the post on Melev's Reef as well, and coincidentally was just at Home Depot enacting that CFL floodlight plan for my new 'fuge - except I found, for $8, a 120w (output) 5000k bulb Technology marches on!

I can't wait to see how it does. Got a little clip-on socket+reflector for it for $6. Actually, was so excited I got 3, and I'm going to put 2 over the aquarium itself, since for about a month of transition here I'm going to have 2 aquariums, but don't have two light fixtures. If it works out well, I'll keep it to supplement my other lighting and make a new thread to tell all about it

In response to the other line of commentary, I suspect that the sun puts out light all across the spectrum, meeting the differing light preferences of corals and algae. Our bulbs produce a more limited spectrum, and we choose the part of it most suited to the creatures we are trying to culture. IMHO