Fuge light question

G

g8rorchid

Member
Now that I am trying again with a fuge and have some lovely chaeto (thanks Greg!) I was hoping I could get some lighting recommendations/opinions. I have tried power compacts and cfl with no success.

I have a hang on fuge (size L) and therefore need a clamp on light or one that would be ok resting on top of the fuge (no cover). I have been looking at 3 options:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-75-Watt-Incandescent-Clamp-Light-HD-200PDQ/205139241

and

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Deluxe-Porcelain-5-5-Inch/dp/B0002AQCX2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1449073191&sr=8-6&keywords=reptile+light

and

http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Wing-Reptile-Light-Holder/dp/B011BE637C/ref=sr_1_42?ie=UTF8&qid=1449073287&sr=8-42&keywords=reptile+light

Obviously I would not be using heat lamps with the last two. I would probably try the screw in leds, unless someone knows of a better bulb that won't break the bank.

Thanks in advance!
 
Fuge light question

e44d6cf1a083a869349b22dfbf812886 .jpg
cc8e90c5ce8c375853f8b32631fa6dcb.jpg



Try this one and think is better option less heat and less power consumption
 
Last edited:
I use the first one you posted from Home Depot. I also use a 120W equivalent CF spiral bulb in a lower kelvin. It works awesome. If you are having trouble growing chaeto, you may not have enough nutrients. Not too long ago, my tank got real clean and all my chaeto died after growing like crazy and looking super healthy and green. Lately its been slowing down again which tells me its getting too clean again. I just threw like a volleyball sized clump away before it cleaned my water too much, LOL!
 
another option would be to make a light using LED. I used these plus 2 more cool whites and a green just cause they were laying around. Used jb weld and mounted stars on a piece of 1/4" aluminum flat stock 4" wide. Light grew blue ochtodes and dragons breath in section of a 55g sump like crazy

1 x Mean Well LPC-35-700 constant current driver
◦ 2 x CREE XP-G R5 5W Cool White LED
◦ 2 x CREE XT-E Royal Blue LED
◦ 2 x Philips Rebel ES 660nm Deep Red LED

google led grow light on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18W-LED-Gro...886673?hash=item1ea32149d1:g:g~wAAOSwd0BV1-ZM
 
Large AquaFuge2
Includes Powerhead
Water Capacity: 4.70 Gallons
Dimensions: 25.5" L x 4.5" W x 12" T

is this what you have?
 
It's the older large model. Dimensions are identical except mine is 24.75" long. I got it from a friend without a pump. I currently have a pump that is 200gph, chaeto doesn't tumble, but from what I've read, the hob fuge flow should be between 5-10 times the size of the fuge, not display tank.
 
How many gallon tank is the fuge hanging on? In the end you are lighting an area 24" long by 4.5 inches wide. I am no expert, but I don't believe you need a ton of light to grow a little a chaeto in that area. If it were me I would look for an inexpensive LED, T5, CFL strip that can be mounted over the fuge, would look so much nicer than the silver dome. Plus most of the light will be spilling over the fuge from the dome.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-white-...hash=item3d0448fd29:m:m0PEhqW2AUlVBO57A9kglQg
 
yea, I didn't read the full thread properly, my mind jumped to full blown chaeto growing in a sump.

may even want to see what lights the pico tank guru's are using
 
Thanks guys! From what I've seen, the led strips tend to be 10k and actinic bulbs, haven't seen any in the 5000—6500 range. Would it work that way?
 
if you can get one cheap enough it would be worth a shot. The refugium is something you are going to be looking at since it's attached to your tank. Water proof is another plus since it will be sitting on top, no worries of salt creep and shocking yourself. Say a 10k actinic strip gives you a 14-20k look, that will be better than a dingy yellow 5-6500K. Chaeto may or may not grow as fast, that is what I don't know, but the 10k actinic should support it. Another thing you can look at is home depot under cabinet lighting, or led strips, find something inexpensive and give it a shot.

here you go 98 bux, 13w LED, the picture looks like led SMD strip in an enclosure, you have to get creative but I am sure you can make something cheaper
http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_Aqua...gium_Sump_Lighting-CPR-CR03617-FIRFRL-vi.html
 
dadummy said:
if you can get one cheap enough it would be worth a shot. The refugium is something you are going to be looking at since it's attached to your tank. Water proof is another plus since it will be sitting on top, no worries of salt creep and shocking yourself. Say a 10k actinic strip gives you a 14-20k look, that will be better than a dingy yellow 5-6500K. Chaeto may or may not grow as fast, that is what I don't know, but the 10k actinic should support it. Another thing you can look at is home depot under cabinet lighting, or led strips, find something inexpensive and give it a shot.

here you go 98 bux, 13w LED, the picture looks like led SMD strip in an enclosure, you have to get creative but I am sure you can make something cheaper
http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_Aqua...gium_Sump_Lighting-CPR-CR03617-FIRFRL-vi.html
Click to expand...


If you're willing to spend that much, this will be a far better option, although it costs more; https://www.tunze.com/fileadmin/downloads_en/TUNZE_LED_ecochic_E_Euronetto.pdf

I'd be worried about the quality and longevity of the CPR led. I've had a few aquafuges over the years and the CPR pc's units were less than good quality. I've never had a Tunze product that wasn't great quality. It's also completely waterproof, so in theory you could put the led lower into the aquafuge and have the light aimed upwards and grow chaeto above it. You could also float the led on the water. It has a lot of great uses and is Tunze quality. In this hobby, you pretty much get what you pay for. If you plan on using the aquafuge for more than 2 years and are thinking of getting the CPR led, buy the Tunze it will end up being less money, because I doubt the CPR led will last 2 years. The Tunze is also twice the wattage and significantly better quality for only 50% more at first cost, and 25% less as soon as you need to replace the CPR led. Plus it looks better, has many different mounting options that could lead to no light spilling over into the aquarium at night if you run your fuge lighting 24 hours or at night. I think these Tunze leds being completely waterproof give it a lot of different uses, and with well over 10 years of experience with different Tunze equipment, I consider them the most reliable, trusted, and "game changing" (like the Tunze nano stream 6055, which I still use one I pre-ordered before it was released however many years ago) manufacturer of all equipment. Any problems I've ever had were quickly helped by by the Tunze rep., Roger, here on ReefCentral. In my opinion, Tunze products are the best deals and cheapest in the long run.
 
I like the first one, has blue/white on separate channels, will look nicer on fuge and probably have better coverage. Light has 63 LED @ .10 watts so you are looking at roughly 6 watts. For 25 bux it's worth a shot, color should look better than HD daylight strip.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Timfish
Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC aka Carbon Dosing)
Replies
0
Views
219
Timfish
Timfish
G
WIFI TDS meter
Replies
5
Views
838
gsmcall
G
M
RSR 250 G2 Refugium
Replies
4
Views
598
mysterywrassee
M
D
Back after 7 years..... Nano 10g
2 3 4
Replies
68
Views
4K
DustanT
D
E
new light - fluval nano reef
Replies
0
Views
455
evil nick
E
Back
Top