Fuge Light?

[jkf1983]

I have a 19watt 5600K CFL flood light for my fuge and my cheato doesnt seem to be growing at much. Im trying to lower my phospates because im having some bubble algae issues...

What do you guys recommend?

 

[Fish_wiz2]

IMO it also depends on your water quality. mine just started booming when my water started going south. now it is slow but maybe throw a 70 watt halide on it

 

[Jeff]

I recommand a media reactor if you are having phosphate issues.

 

[Jeff]

Along with a fuge. Sorry if I made it sound like that all you would need is a reactor. That bulb should work fine Melev's Fuge Light .
You could also try emerald crabs for the bubble algae but certain species of them are not reefsafe.

 

[jkf1983]

Thanks I actually have one, where do you recommend getting the media from? Cheaper the better

 

[Jeff]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ Great stuff, low prices. The have great reactors also. I use the dual reactor that they sell for activated charcoal and gfo.

 

[MBasile]

Cheato never really grew well in my fuge, so I put some caulerpa in there it does 100% better. grows very fast and soaks up nutrients. Do you have a DSB in your fuge? that will help keep your nitrates down as well.

 

[jkf1983]

Yea I have a 3" DSB. Is there a particular kind of caulerpa I should get?

 

[Fish_wiz2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13949060#post13949060 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jkf1983
Yea I have a 3" DSB. Is there a particular kind of caulerpa I should get?

You could get some from mbasile, he's got tons!

 

[wld1783]

19Watts is kinda weak.

Try a light with more PAR. Lots of Ho lights that will work better.

Bill

BTW my cheato grows slow that could be a good thing.

 

[jkf1983]

Any ideas on a good bulb?

 

[wld1783]

Home depot has a nice 21 watt T5 fixture for around $65.

Order a 10k T5 online. This with your CF light should do it. If the light is close.

Ideally a 150 watt MH will give you best growth.

Bill

 

[jkf1983]

maybe ill just put some in the main display for awhile is that a good idea?

 

[xreflux]

i've actually use a regular CF bulb with a cheap reflector and it has sufficient growth for my fuge. specifically the cheato doubles in size about every 2 months, and then i throw away half of it and start again.

it's the "daylight" type of bulb, looks like this.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...roductId=100527340&N=10000003+530232+10401001

it's like $3 individually.

the reflector i use is like $7 at home depot.

 

[synofreak]

I'm same as xreflux. A 16W CFL "daylight" at 6500K. Both my fuges run these with cheap clip on reflectors. Very good growth, but the light is very close to the water(2-4").

 

[MBasile]

I use two home depot 6500K screw in CFL bulbs and they work fine for the caulerpa. I put some cheato in my main tank once under 250 halides and it grew really fast so I had to take it out. I think it not only liked the strong light but also the strong flow. If you want to try some caulerpa I have three or four varieties.

 

[Helter Skilter]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13954962#post13954962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jkf1983
Any ideas on a good bulb?

I use a 150W utility light made by Sylvania. It's rated at 2740 lumens. It's enough to keep my acro frags alive, and grows chaeto quick.