Par38 Refugium

[cardiffgiant]

Just sharing my experience on a recent change for my refugium. If you see anyone selling par38s, or feel like making a change to your lighting, this might be useful.

I used spiral floodlight CFLs over my refigium for years and never had issues growing chaetorphia, grape caulerpa, or halmedia (though I no longer keep grape caulerpa).

I used to use 2 par38's over my 20G frag tank, but recently added custom LED fixture and moved the par38s back to the refugium. I am as pleased as I expected to be with the fixture over my frag tank, moving the par38s over my refugium has far exceed my expectations.

I have a 29 gallon fuge, and mount the par38s about 20" above my refugium. My chaeto and halmedia have nearly doubled in size over the last 4 weeks, and I've recently added a kenya to the refugium. The kenya is at the bottom of the tank, fully extends during the photocycle and is growing at a normal pace. Most importantly, there is less nuisance algae on the glass in my display.

Has anyone else tried this?

 

[E_rock]

your bulbs. Are they the more blue ones or the more white ones?

 

[cardiffgiant]

They are the nanotuner bulbs with 3 blue and 2 white.

 

[IronMan72]

I've always used CFL spiral bulbs over my fuge as well but I picked up a used 4x39 T5 fixture about 6 months ago and have been using it for my refugium until I got my grow out tank set up. The growth in the fuge has been amazing, almost too fast as I'm constantly clipping and discarding Grape Caulerpa.

I just picked up a tank for grow out and will be moving the T5 fixture to it once drilled and set up. I have been trying to decide what to use over the fuge now so this thread is well timed. I was considering PAR38 but I think I liked the slower growth rate with CFL's and frankly the reef bulbs are a bit expensive.

Has anyone ever tried these 5000K PAR38 LED bulbs from HD for their refugium?
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202668659/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=par38+led&storeId=10051#.UDIoodX5OrI

 

[S2minute]

Par 38's

Par 38's

No, i have not for mine. Though expensive still, it's life is suposed to be what? 10 years?? I recently picked up 2 Nano Glow units for my fuge. They are $50 each and have 4 1w leds with a very narrow profile so i have them right on top of the Fuge. Compared to what i was using,( 1 24" PC fixture with an led for moon light), it was a massive heat generator and the fixture diden't last long at all. That was a waste of money. I'm very happy with the Nanos.

 

[Dapg8gt]

I've always used CFL spiral bulbs over my fuge as well but I picked up a used 4x39 T5 fixture about 6 months ago and have been using it for my refugium until I got my grow out tank set up. The growth in the fuge has been amazing, almost too fast as I'm constantly clipping and discarding Grape Caulerpa.

I just picked up a tank for grow out and will be moving the T5 fixture to it once drilled and set up. I have been trying to decide what to use over the fuge now so this thread is well timed. I was considering PAR38 but I think I liked the slower growth rate with CFL's and frankly the reef bulbs are a bit expensive.

Has anyone ever tried these 5000K PAR38 LED bulbs from HD for their refugium?
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202668659/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=par38+led&storeId=10051#.UDIoodX5OrI

I'm running an HD similar to that but 5500k. I love it. It grows chaeto so much faster than the previous CFL. I wont be going back to cfl.

 

[pascal32]

thanks for the info, I've been thinking about putting my spare par38 over the refugium.