Lighting for a 24x22x22 Refugium?

[d2mini]

Mostly for cheato but maybe also some other macros.
Doesn't need to be pretty.
Just needs to be effective for that size tank.
A lot of the ones I see recommended I worry they are too small.
Suggestions?

 

[Subsea]

It is hard to beat CFL lamps from Home Depot. Use four 16W bulbs over that area.
Patrick

 

[d2mini]

ok so 4... that's what I was wondering if I went with CFL.
I have one of those huge 200w cfl grow light bulbs for my mangrove tank, but that fixture may be too big for this application since I don't have a ton of room overhead.

So besides CFL, any other options, maybe a single unit?

 

[fermentedhiker]

Is cost a major factor?

 

[d2mini]

Is cost a major factor?

Well I'm not going to throw a Radion over it.
But I'm open to hearing my options.
Growth/correct spectrum is paramount.

 

[saltwater sam]

The PAR 38 LEDs I'm using have worked well for my mangroves and macros.

 

[Subsea]

ok so 4... that's what I was wondering if I went with CFL.
I have one of those huge 200w cfl grow light bulbs for my mangrove tank, but that fixture may be too big for this application since I don't have a ton of room overhead.

So besides CFL, any other options, maybe a single unit?

hhttp://www.htgsupply.com/Product-GrowBright-2-Foot-4-Lamp-High-Output-T5-With-Choice-of-Bulbs
hhttp://www.htgsupply.com/Product-FLORALUX-150w-HPS-Mini-Grow-Light

Browse this greenhouse supplier.
Patrick

 

[fermentedhiker]

Well I'm not going to throw a Radion over it.
But I'm open to hearing my options.
Growth/correct spectrum is paramount.

Haha true enough.

I was just thinking some of those chinese value fixtures have growlight versions as well which would probably work great for macros.

Otherwise some par38 leds would work. slightly higher upfront costs than cfls but cfls par is prone to drop after 6 months or so. In the end the bulb replacement would cost more than the par38 especially if you get them of ebay direct from China.

 

[d2mini]

hhttp://www.htgsupply.com/Product-FLORALUX-150w-HPS-Mini-Grow-Light

Have to say, the price is right on that one.
And if it grows weed, it should grow Chaeto, am I right?!

I have this one over my mangroves and it works real well.
http://www.hpsgrowlightstore.com/system-comp-fluorescent-200w-day.html

This other one looks like it's little brother.

 

[Subsea]

I also have used the 200W CFL fixture.

I have compared 1000W HPS with 1000W MH at 6500 Kelvin. I used the same electronic ballast and the same fixture with the two bulbs. The HPS bulb put out double the PAR of the MH bulb. For a macro algae refugium, this lamp should work very well.
Patrick

 

[d2mini]

I also have used the 200W CFL fixture.

I have compared 1000W HPS with 1000W MH at 6500 Kelvin. I used the same electronic ballast and the same fixture with the two bulbs. The HPS bulb put out double the PAR of the MH bulb. For a macro algae refugium, this lamp should work very well.
Patrick

One other question with that HPS fixture.
My refugium on the bottom level of my fish room stand. So the fixture will be hanging from under the top level.
There will only be about 8" between the top of my fuge tank and the bottom of the fixture.
Do you think that's too close?

 

[Subsea]

The fixture is 5" high. Light output of this fixture is 16,000 lux, more than three 4' T5 lamps. It will be very intense lighting. Initially, the intensity may well sun burn the Chaeto. It will recover from that.
Patrick

 

[d2mini]

Ok, thanks for all the info.
I guess if i needed to, I could lay a sheet of diffused plexi over the tank or something temporarily.
And yeah, i saw that the fixture was 5" tall. So including that, with an inch or two of breathing room above it, I would still have around 8-9" between the fixture and the water.

The Par38 LED specs here say it's 110,000 LUX for the daylight bulb.
http://www.theledlight.com/par38.html
And someone mentioned using more than one.

Seems like tons of light with either choice!

 

[phobos2deimos]

The PAR 38 LEDs I'm using have worked well for my mangroves and macros.

+1, I've done CFLs for many tanks, finally switched to 17w 5k CREE PAR38 for $17 and growth quadrupled. 2-4 would be good for a 24" cube.

 

[d2mini]

The fixture is 5" high. Light output of this fixture is 16,000 lux, more than three 4' T5 lamps. It will be very intense lighting. Initially, the intensity may well sun burn the Chaeto. It will recover from that.
Patrick

So i got the 150w HPS lamp.
Nice little kit, but the bulb has a kelvin rating of something like 2100-3000k.
Isn't that wayyyyy too yellow for our purposes?
This info wasn't listed on the website. I assumed it would be closer to 5000k.

 

[DamonG]

Nope! I, along with a few others run the 150 hps.. It's fantastic four the fuge! I posted pictures in the other threads, but here's my pictures from this weekend and initial when i first started on the 9th..


And the yellow v color doesn't bother a thing at all..

 

[d2mini]

Nope! I, along with a few others run the 150 hps.. It's fantastic four the fuge! I posted pictures in the other threads, but here's my pictures from this weekend and initial when i first started on the 9th..


And the yellow v color doesn't bother a thing at all..

ok, cool... i'll give it a shot.
I also see there is a specialty bulb with "30% more blue spectrum".
http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-AgroMax-150w-HPS-Lamp-MEDIUM-BASE
Have you ever tried this one to compare?

 

[DamonG]

No, because I found the red spectrum grows better..

 

[d2mini]

Ok, thanks for the input!

 

[codydemmel4]

Not trying to steal this thread, but for a fuge that is 18.5 long, 12.5 wide and 17 high.

What would be the cheapest way for me to grow cheato, I am trying to get it to grow at a good pace but also keep the cost minimum.

Thanks!