Light for chaeto in sump

[Goldmund]

I'm planning to start growing chaeto in the middle section of my 20g sump. What kind of light would give me good results?

Want to keep it under $100, and was thinking of something like this MarsAqua LED box unless that would be complete overkill.

 

[oblio]

Personally I think your overthinking this, I used this bulb and it worked perfect, since your growing just macro algae the single most important spectrum is 65k.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Feit-Ele...00K-Spiral-CFL-Light-Bulb-ESL40TN-D/203252142

Boom, 9bucks, done. Buy one of the clamp on sockets with the tin deflector while your at HD and your done friend.

 

[Goldmund]

Perfect, thanks!

 

[laga77]

All you need is what oblio has posted. Use a cheap fixture with metal reflector and clamp from hardware store and you are good to go.

 

[Goldmund]

For the chaeto, I was planning to make a basket out of eggcrate and hang it between the two sections. Sound good?

 

[Led Bizkit]

Personally I think your overthinking this, I used this bulb and it worked perfect, since your growing just macro algae the single most important spectrum is 65k.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Feit-Ele...00K-Spiral-CFL-Light-Bulb-ESL40TN-D/203252142

Boom, 9bucks, done. Buy one of the clamp on sockets with the tin deflector while your at HD and your done friend.

This is what I did too.

I heard you should change this bulb out every 6 months but not sure if that is true.

 

[Scoted]

I use this one.

http://t.homedepot.com/p/FlareAlert-75-Watt-PVC-Clamp-Lamp/204588318/?showPLP=false

 

[nuxx]

I run a very similar Cheap Chinese LED on our fuge area. Also a Build My LED fuge light.

Here's a video:




Took a while, but now the Chaeto is taking off!

 

[jml1149]

OMG!!! CFL is so 2014.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-75W-Equivalent-Daylight-5000K-PAR30L-Dimmable-LED-Flood-Light-Bulb-434992/205213850


I leave this on 24/7 with one of the 9 dollar reflectors and the growth is amazing.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I run an inexpensive Chinese led fixture over my sumps. I sometimes use them for storing extra live rock, occasionally unwanted fish and even a frag rack with new corals that I can't place in the display tank right away.

 

[civics14]

coming from freshwater planted aquariums, red/blue light grows plants the best from my experience, so i got a red/blue grow led clip light on ebay for like $20 and use it for my chaeto in sump and it works great!

 

[CUSE1315]

Jumping in on this post. I have been using a 30" fluorsecent t5 bulb on my sump for a week now with Chaeto. It doesn't seem to be doing terrible but I am wondering is that going to be sufficient long term?

Also what are peoples thoughts on these bulbs?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-60-Watt-Incandescent-A19-Agro-Plant-Light-Bulb-429480/202762720

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-120-Watt-Agro-Plant-Light-BR40-Flood-Light-Bulb-415307/202768441


Last question. If I already have some metal reptile heat lamps do you think they are the same as the metal clip ons from HD? Thanks in advance!

 

[Goldmund]

I wasn't able to find a 6500k bulb locally, so I went with a 120w equivalent 5000k CFL. So far so good, the sucker is bright! Using one of those clip on reflector fixtures, but it feels a little unsafe so I might go with something I can screw into the stand.

 

[ca1ore]

OMG!!! CFL is so 2014.

Isn't it though :lol:

I use a pair of similar 5K LED floods (one lights the chaeto from above; the other from below). I don't find the color temperature to make much difference. My own best growth came from using the red/blue LED grow lights, but I repurposed them for my ATS and went back to cheap 5K LEDS.

FWIW, if one can setup the refugium so that the chaeto tumbles, that is best. Ensures even light exposure and helps to prevent cyano growth in the chaeto.

 

[horseplay]

Clip on light with 2700k CFL works best for me. 100W equivalent I think. I remove 1/2 every two weeks.

 

[ca1ore]

That's not chaeto

 

[horseplay]

That's not chaeto

Haha. I had a small ball of chaeto and large amount of caulerpa. I've been taking out the caulerpa over time now it's 80% chaeto. You see in this picture I have the chaeto right under the light. This was a few weeks ago. I collect several type of macros. Not tumbling either. Water comes in from top of the refugium and go out on top.

 

[Sophie10]

Here's what I use...

Here's what I use...

I have a cheap clip-on lamp with a compact fluorescent spot, 23W PAR38 2700K on a 20g sump (65 gallon display attached). My Chaeto grows like mad, clean and long-stranded. Just changed the bulb after 4 years! $10 for the bulb and about $10 for the fixture. Available at any hardware store. Works like a charm! Good luck!

See here... https://www.flickr.com/gp/60140275@N03/i2Sd71