Optimum lighting for macro

[chefthomasr]

Hi!

I am starting a little collection of macro for my someday to be seahorse tank. So far I have feather caulerpa, red grape caulerpa, chaeto, halimeda, and some grass looking species that I do not know its name. These are all growing in the fuge of our established reef tank.

My plan is to make some DIY rocks and seed them with live rock from our reef. I also thought I would run pumps to our reef fuge to help the curing process. Then I wanted to add these macro species and let them establish. I don't want to use a skimmer or fuge on this tank. So I figure making sure these macros have optimum lighting will help tremendously with nutrient export.

I have seen a lot of conflicting views on what is the best lighting for macro. I was thinking actinic 03 VHO and aquasun VHO. What is you all's opinion on lighting for macro?

Thanks as always for the advice.

 

[Samala]

Actinic light wont be of much use for photosynthetic creatures like macroalgae. It will help with tank aesthetics though. I'm leary of VHO with seahorse tanks, they need to stay in the cooler range (from 68 - 74F is the span I see most often reported as successful) and VHO's run so hot. If aquasun's are in the daylight temperature range.. from 5000K to 10,000K, they should work well.

Watts-per-gallon rules are a terrible way to light a tank, especially taller tanks that seahorses typically require, but its all I have for reference as to light levels with macroalgae. With many species you can get by on 1.5wpg, but I'd say optimal falls around 2.5wpg. Dont add in watts from actinic bulbs.

I havent worked with PAR readings and macroalgae long enough to know what keeps things happy, but 100PAR to 220PAR was excellent for Caulerpa prolifera, Ulva lactuca / compressa, Halymenia (higher end) and others.

>Sarah

 

[chefthomasr]

I was checking out the Fosters & Smith catalog last night for good lights for plants. My LFS said I need more than just regular grow lights for the macro.

Here are the links to the bulbs from Dr. Foster's and Smith.

AquaSun

It says these are the great for plants Actinic 03

But I'm definately concerned about the heat. But I really want to go skimmerless/filterless. So I want the macro to thrive.

Its a 65gal tall. What kind of lighting do you recommend if VHO and MH are too hot?

Thanks for the reply by the way!

Jenny

 

[chefthomasr]

Let's try that again.

Actinic 03

 

[chefthomasr]

There is a whole forum for Marine Plants and Macro but nobody knows what the best light to grow them in is??? Common I know you know just share

 

[graveyardworm]

There are so many ways to do it successfully that its hard to recommend just one. With the deep tank your going to need something with a little punch. Obviously MH would be the best for this, but if heat is an issue then maybe not. If it was me I would go with T5's maybe a 4 bulb fixture, two bulbs in a low kelvin range say 5000 to 6500K, one bulb in the 10000K range, and for aesthetics an actinic. If you think this is to bright for seahorses then go with a 2 bulb fixture. Of coarse PC or VHO's would work as well just make sure to mix in lower K bulbs and use the actinics for aesthetics only.

 

[graveyardworm]

By the way the actinic bulb you posted would be virtually useless for plants. It is extremely blue. If you're dead set on VHO go with the actinic/white and/or aquasun.

 

[chefthomasr]

Graveyardworm,

I'm definately not set on anything. I just put it out there to try to get some opinions rolling. I'll look into the T5s. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

Jenny

 

[cmsargent]

I have PC lights on my tank about 2.5 wpg Daylight (10,000K & 6,700K) and 2.5 wpg actinic, although I don't run the actinic much.

I'm by no means an expert. I've only had this set up for just over two months but so far everything in my tank is doing well and growing. I have a several types of caulerpa, red grape, codium, Heymenia, red kelp, and a red branching macro (that I haven't been able to id). Everything is actively growing so I figure I must be doing something right.

 

[SuperNerd]

I use a lights of america 6500 Kelvin floodlight over my fuge. Plants grow like crazy.