bulb for refugium

[mskohl]

I thought I would try one of these on my refugium:

Lights of America
Compact Fluorescent
Sunlight Bulb
100W replacement - Uses only 25W
6500K

Sorry no pic, but I just got it at Wal-Mart and figured I could try it in the spotlight.

What are your thoughts/ experiences?

 

[SoonerFan732]

I was using one of those on my refugium for about 6 months and the macroalgae in the sump never really grew while the microalgae in the main display exploded. I have read of others having better luck with that bulb. I am under the opinion I need stronger light on the refugium.

I have since moved my macroalgae to the main display where it is growing rather fast and I have noticed a significant reduction in the diatom/cyano breakout I recently encountered.

If it works out for you though you can't beat the price!

 

[nIx_tank]

I have one of those showing in my fuge.

I haven't really seen any kind of explosion of macro growth, but then again, I have too much micro in my main display.

I am pretty sure that Travis is running one over his also. He might have some more insight.

 

[oldsaltman]

Re: bulb for refugium

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7911575#post7911575 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mskohl

Lights of America
Compact Fluorescent
Sunlight Bulb
100W replacement - Uses only 25W
6500K

I used this bulb for a while with no real positives or negatives. My micro just stayed healthy but didn't grow much. Walmart now has a 125w version of the same bulb so I bought one of them to try.:lol:

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7912617#post7912617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nIx_tank
I have one of those showing in my fuge.

I haven't really seen any kind of explosion of macro growth, but then again, I have too much micro in my main display.

I am pretty sure that Travis is running one over his also. He might have some more insight.

Im really busy today, so I'll have to make this short. I am using them over various tanks at the moment. I can't remember the output, but it uses 35 watts and is in the shape of a floodlight lamp. It's not the Compact Fluorescent that is inside a glass Floodlight. I'll try to take pictures of it. I run two of them over me refugium on my 29g and it worked wonders. It took a long time for my Chaeto to kick in, but it works. I'm also running two similar bulbs on a 10g tank that is fueling coral growth like mad. YoungSilver, your Gorgonian is LOVING it. It's about to spout another branch. I also ran a single one over a 10g tank to keep soft corals alive. Lastly, we are running two of them over a 75g refugium at Kyoto and it is fueling Chaeto but powering Caulerpa peltata like crazy. I'll see if I can get pictures of it for you.

YoungSilver, can you chime in and tell us what Lights of America bulbs you are using? They are a little different then mine.

 

[Russ Braaten]

I used the Lights Of America replacement bulb for their exterior lights that have a mogul base and put out the equivalent of 300 watts of light. You have to use the electronics that came with the fixture. The light put out 6500 K light as well. It was the best cheato grower I ever saw. The cheato would grow into a square brick and fill the whole refugium.

 

[mskohl]

Russ, what electronics are you talking about? I just bought the bulb it's got the u-tube style of bulb instead of the sprial. My cheato has been doing just okay under sylvania's 13W 3000K. It was better before that bulb when I had some type of plant grow/flood light one there, but I don't remember what that was.

We'll see how this goes.

 

[oldsaltman]

Russ, is that the HomeDepot $39.39 light? I bought one this week and just set it up.:smokin:

 

[Russ Braaten]

I don'd remember how much the light is because I bought the fixture at a discount store where the housing was broken. I didn't need the housing so I got it for $10.

If you got the one that says the bulb equals 300 watts of light or about real 85 watts, that would be it. I know there is a slightly smaller one too. I think it is a 65 wayy bulb.

 

[eddybabyhd]

yes they are 39.99 each. I have the ones that look like a quad bulb, they work great for plants. Dont have them on a refuge, but here they are in action

 

[swamp63]

I'm using a commercial electric 19 watt spiral c/f
6500k on my fuge in a spotlight fixture and the cheato is growing great.

 

[Serra]

Soonerfan- Keep in mind that part of the reason for a fug is to have the light on at night so that you don't get the pH swings that can happen without photosynthesis going on somewhere 24/7.