cheato growth

[treesmoker]

So when I fistr set up my current tanks fillter/fuge system I was using a tiny little 18w coralife light that didn't seem to do anything. Then I threw my 70w sunpod on there and presto, massive growth. Super healthy cheato that feels like you're grabbing a headfull of curly hair chalked full of litte critters. Well after I set my aquapod back up I needed the light of the fuge and decided to try using a lower wattage CFL bulb (which everyone I taalked to said would be fine) and a year later my cheato is now a small clump of thin, dingy green stuff that keeps breaking away and clogging my return pump all the time. Ive put my sunpod back over the fuge now so I'm hopeful To see a turn around soon. It could just be coinsidence that my tank started having issues right about the time I was doing all of this but I dont dont think so.

 

[Grant W]

The macro reduction had to be part of the issue as it was probably helping to keep the nutrient load under control and without it they slowly rose to unhealth levels, that in addition to the issues you were having with your lighting were probably the main causes of the trouble. Plus being a busy student like you are it would have been hard to find the time to stop the trouble from occuring artificially through more water changes. Good to hear you have the tank on track again and keep up the good work Jake.

 

[treesmoker]

originally I was told that the proper wattage for a fuge light was 70w and that a cfl equivilant would work too........anyone else have this problem?

 

[alanbates12]

I've got a 11 in. Mini Aqualight - 2 x 6W. Was told this would be a good light for my fuge. Here are the specifications:
Coralife's Mini Aqualight uses dual T5 lamps and a highly polished aluminum reflector to produce intense light while using low energy. 6W 10,000K and Actinic 420nm-460 lamps benefit your small tank or refugium with crisp, white beams and blue moon spectrums. Internals are protected by a durable aluminum shell and lens. Includes lamps and mounting brackets.

Is this enough light? This is a far cry from you 70w.