MV for Refugium light?

[sundevil_brian]

has anyone used a Mercury Vapor lamp to light their Refugium? The color is around 6k and you can buy a 175watt one at lowes for about $20. The color temp isn't the greatest for corals but im sure it would grow algeas just fine. I would try it myself but i only have a nano and my fuge consits of a ac110 so i think a 175 mv lamp would be just a little over kill.

I am thinking about it tho for when i upgrade (not anytime soon but an upgrade is inevitable)

I just would like to know what other people think about it.

 

[DrBDC]

It will work just fine for macro's. You can also pick up a cheap used mh ballast and rotate out your old mh bulbs after they've outlived thier useful life over your display.

 

[Serioussnaps]

what the doctor said

that light is fine for macros for sure

iknow people that use the 13 w cheap householdpower compacts from lowes and get good chaeto growth

i have even used 2 regular 15w NO fluorescents and they did fine believe it or not but i had them right on the chaeto basically, i dont recommend this but just make it as a point to show you are just fine

 

[Reefjunkee]

you can buy 26watt compact 6500k`s from walmart for 8 bucks.I have 2 on my fuge..they work great!

 

[LBCBJ]

The good thing about macro is they're not that picky about light. A simple compact flourescent fixture from Lowe's would work fine, the MV would probably work good too, as long as its in the 6500-10000K range.