Refugium lighting on the cheap

[barjam]

I just setup a 55 gallon (48 inch) barebottom tank specifically to grow macro algae. I don't have any money to spend on this right now but I do have some extra lighting laying around. My options currently are 4 x 40 watt NO daylight in a crappy fixture or 2 x 54 (good reflectors) T5.

So for the time being which would be my best option?

My eventual goal would be to grow other interesting macros just for the heck of it. I plan to eventually use 4x54 t5 lighting, does that seem about right for most ornamental macro?

 

[gweston]

My fuge has a regular old shop light reflector with a power compact bulb (6500k daylight). Its decent enough light to keep the chaeto going. For a 55 gal, maybe a second would be needed.

As for yours, I'd think you'd be fine either fixture. The T5 would certainly be the better of the two... but you could use that for a soft coral frag tank

 

[Wichers]

My fuge has a regular old shop light reflector with a power compact bulb (6500k daylight). Its decent enough light to keep the chaeto going. For a 55 gal, maybe a second would be needed.

I have the same and my cheato grows great. $7 clip on socket/reflector from any hardware store and $4 for the bulb. Cant get much cheaper than that.

 

[zeeter]

I use a couple of clamp-lights from Home Depot for mine. Inside I put a couple of those eco-bulbs that last forever. Two years so far and haven't needed to replace them.

 

[gbru316]

I successfully used a cheap clip on socket with a 75w bulb. Chaeto took off with it. Performed much better than 2x65w PC bulbs, probably because the standard bulb had a color much more suitable for plant growth.

 

[Millticket]

Home depot clamp light + 5k rating compact bulb. Very cheap and works good.

 

[Joel_155]

I have two 5k LED bulbs from lowest for my setup. Im still in the build process so I haven't seen if they'll xo.the job but I figure they will

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[llewoh05]

i don't know how you guys are using those shop lights and light bulbs. ive tried every type including spot lights. none of them could keep my cheato growing. now throw a little 150mh on it and holy crap.

 

[BDean]

I have a bar of red and white LEDs on my fuge. It's totally worth the money becuase the cheato growth is amazing.

 

[nichthyes]

you guys are talking about those cone shaped lamps that clip onto the rim of the tank, right? the ones they sell for reptile tanks? and the curly bulbs that you can get at almost anywhere that last forever? That should be perfect for algae right? About 5000 or 6500K

 

[ktg113]

Yup

 

[96slowbra]

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&R=202668655&catEntryId=202668655

 

[kenghmoob]

I agree with everyone that are using the light fixtures you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot. I bought mine at Lowes with the 6500K eco-bulbs for under $15. It's growing my Chaeto just fine. Don't know if I would run the lights for more than a year though because I don't know if the performance deceases over time. The next time I buy these bulbs, I might go with the flood light version.

 

[noahlito]

i don't know how you guys are using those shop lights and light bulbs. ive tried every type including spot lights. none of them could keep my cheato growing. now throw a little 150mh on it and holy crap.

I was about to say that your tank is to clean, but if you need a 150mh then it is doing something else than providing ample light, increased nutrients etc i don't know, but it's not that hard to grow chaeto, some grows faster than others. One thing I've learned is chaeto likes to clump and so the clumped chaeto strands compete for light. Spread the chaeto out and maybe the growth will be better. Again chaeto uses nutrients, clean tank no growth...

 

[noahlito]

I have two 5k LED bulbs from lowest for my setup. Im still in the build process so I haven't seen if they'll xo.the job but I figure they will

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I use a clip on lamp with a walmart 10k led as well, and I have no problems. I prefer the led for the sump because you never have to worry about spectrum shift anymore vs buying a regular bulb and then you have problems.

 

[MrDemonicAngel]

i've used just a regular 6500k bulb with a cheapo clamp

 

[ktownhero]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2633884