Cheato Lighting?

[IShark]

What lights do i use in my sump for my cheato? What would give me the best results? and where should I go for to get them? (lowes, home depot)

 

[lolgranny]

Just get a clamp light with a 6500k 75watt bulb. 15$ max. Done. Easy peezy brothaman

 

[aquainas]

Either Home Depot or Lowes has these in the $15 dollar range. You'll be harvesting once a month provided you have sufficient nutrients.

 

[muppet]

How long should the light be on? Should it just be on opposite the lights in the DT? I'm going to want to set something like this up soon myself.

 

[HanoverFist]

melvsreef recommends these : PAR38 5100k PC reflector lamp

Pretty much what you're suggesting, but I believe these have a better PAR and a solid 5100k rating for plant life. Also only $12

 

[fatdaddy]

What lights do i use in my sump for my cheato? What would give me the best results? and where should I go for to get them? (lowes, home depot)

Bought these last time:
http://1000bulbs.com/product/6922/FC16-P3865.html

I can't seem to find decent bulbs in the local home depot, lowe's, walmart, etc.

 

[mike_cmu04]

For sure opposite the dt at a minumum i leave mine on 24-7

 

[aleonn]

I got a JBJ LED refugium light magnetic clip on. It would have no heat transfer to the refugium.

 

[aquainas]

How long should the light be on? Should it just be on opposite the lights in the DT? I'm going to want to set something like this up soon myself.

You can run it opposite the display to help maintain ph.

 

[IShark]

Thanks 4 all ur help guys, thats why I come here cuz I always get fast helpful answers.

 

[dtran01]

some people run the chaeto on a 24 hour constant cycle with no ill effects. others insist that it's no good and plants need a night cycle.

i run mine on an 18 hour that is mostly when the display tank is off, so it only gets dark for 6 hours a day.

 

[muppet]

Doesn't the closed up stand get hot under lights like that, or have you got a fish room or something? Is the sump enough of a heat sink to run a flood light inside my stand for 18 hours a day?

 

[sn4265]

Typically, the spiral florescent bulbs don't generate much in the way of heat, especially if you are talking about the lower end wattage like the 60 watt bulb. I wouldn't think heat would be an issue with either the spiral florescent or LED lights.

 

[muppet]

Somebody above posted a link to a big fat incandescent.

Should I be running CF bulbs then? What specs should I look for?

Oh, wait.. that's not an incandescent. D'oh. Nevermind me....

 

[mcgyvr]

I'm running a compact flourescent spot light from home depot. (I think its day light 5100K--said so on the back of the package). Its like a 16W or something.. WORKS EXCELLENT. I just started and threw 2 balls in there an in 1 week it has doubled in size.. Another week or so and I will have to start harvesting. Came in a 2 pack for like 20 bucks or less.

 

[mcgyvr]

This was it exactly
http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
$12 for 2 daylight 5000K color temp

 

[muppet]

Here's another question. My LFS sells "Macro algae" in big green tumbleweed-looking balls. Is that NECESSARILY cheato or could it be something else? It doesn't SAY "cheato".

 

[lordofthereef]

Here's another question. My LFS sells "Macro algae" in big green tumbleweed-looking balls. Is that NECESSARILY cheato or could it be something else? It doesn't SAY "cheato".

It could be something else I suppose, but it probably is chaeto. Is it all uniform in size and shape (referring to the strands)? If so, it's most likely chaeto. I would look for some from a local club member though. That stuff grows like a weed and the LFS is making money off of what they throw away by the bucketful weekly I am sure...

 

[fatdaddy]

Here's another question. My LFS sells "Macro algae" in big green tumbleweed-looking balls. Is that NECESSARILY cheato or could it be something else? It doesn't SAY "cheato".

Does it look like green wire in a ball? That's Cheato. Just google for pics.

I've seen it also with caulerpa mixed into the ball. It's highly invasive, but it does grow well.

 

[scubasteve06]

As far as heat goes I can hold the back of my hand to my clip on light which is a 65 watt 6100k flood light on a 6.5" clip on fixture from lowe's for hours and it wouldn't burn me or even get close to hot. I have a digital thermometer in my sump and when the light is off it is a constant 74.5 in my sump. When the light is on which it is set on a timer to run for 20 hours a day 4 hours off once my main DT lights come on after sunrise it only goes up to 75 degrees farenheit. I have calupera and chaeto in my sump. I have the calupera in a seperate rubbermaid bin inside my sump with LR rubble in the bottom and I break it up/turn it once a day. The chaeto I have just floating around on one side and it gets tumbled very slowly this way which is best for chaeto to tumble so all sides get light. If this isn't feasable or possible for you then just make sure to turn the chaeto over also every day and trim dying parts off that don't receive light.

Edit/added: My fuge light was 8 bucks for the clip on shop light and another 7 bucks for the bulb as others said 15$ max. Make sure to get a light that is in the 5000k-6500k spectrum. These have been proven to grow macro algae the best, Sanjay says the 6100k's do the best which is what I use. He found the 5k's to be really yellow and lacking in certain wavelength energy where as the 6100k's seem to be a better cool white and have the most useful PAR.

Another reason I keep the calupera seperate is for the reason fatdaddy stated its highly invasive but grows like a weed, a lot faster than chaeto. If left together the calupera will choke out the chaeto and it won't receive enough light.