Refugium Lighting

[krshlln300]

Hey everyone, just starting a refugium for some macro I want to grow. I already have 3 stunner strips from ecoxotic I plan on using. I just want to know will that be enough to grow the macro algae or would this...
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11000158#prodTab1
be better? If neither than does anybody know of any good led's I can use?

 

[Big Dog]

2 years worth of bulbs

Fixture

 

[AHDOnline]

I also use the shop light, but a different bulb from home depot. All about the same price. You will want a 5k or 5500k bulb, most of the CFL Type spotlights have a rating on the box somewhere now.

 

[Just2Many]

LED from Ebay in 6500k Saves power and works forever. Think it's like under $15

 

[krshlln300]

Thanks. any ideas on the marineland single bright? Will that work? I have one laying in storage from an old freshwater tank I had. I also have stunner strips but I want to make sure I have enough light that this stuff doesn't go sexual on me.

 

[Big Dog]

LED from Ebay in 6500k Saves power and works forever. Think it's like under $15

I paid about double for one and it didn't do squat for the fuge sorry to say.

 

[AHDOnline]

yeah I guess to directly answer your question, I am not a fan of any LED at this point to be fully trusted. The fuge is obviously an easier place to test LED, but the cheaper you go the crappier the LED. So many contradictions in technology that unless someone here actually uses one first hand it will be hard to just generally say what will work

 

[krshlln300]

Would any of the LED spotlights from lowes or home depot be of any use? Any really inexpensive solutions? I'm on a tight budget.

 

[krshlln300]

or would a double brite or single brite from marineland work? again I have an older one from my freshwater that I can use= I won't have to buy anything new.

 

[AHDOnline]

Every LED i have looked at from Lowes or HD are never more than a 3k. If you are on that tight a budget I would just recommend the 5$ shop fixture and $8 cfl flood light. It doesnt get that hot and you dont need a lot of room

 

[AHDOnline]

You can always try it. You might want to hit someone in the club up to borrow a PAR meter and just test it.

According to Marineland specs it is suppose to help plant growth....

 

[krshlln300]

OK would it probably work along with Stunner supplementation 12k? the fuge is a 20 long so the algae would only be around 6" of water after the sand bed. Also would I prlly be able to use the LED flood lights from HD or lowes? There is also a par 38 bulb from costco that looks promising. it is only 3000k rating tho.

 

[AHDOnline]

well adding two 3k is not going to get 6k.

The costco bulb is also going to set you back almost 30-40$ if its the one i was looking at.

 

[krshlln300]

I know adding 2 3k doesnt get you 6k lol. I just meant the stunner strips I have are 12k. I was referring to the light from costco. I just want to know what will work that I don't have to replace every 2 months or so. Would a cfl bulb rated around 5700k be sufficient from lowes? http://www.lowes.com/pd_351121-3-78...&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=led&facetInfo=
or
http://www.ledlight.com/par38-led-light.aspx#Reviews
or
http://www.ledlight.com/par_30_led_cree_high_power_7_x_1_watt_dimmable_85_260_vac_30_deg_e27_ul.aspx

I know the initial cost may be higher with LED but with them only being on ~ 10 hrs per day or so (opposite display tank times) the bulb life would be FAR longer than any cfl that ive heard or seen which means no replacement cost plus the electric bill would also be a little more friendly. But if these wouldn't work ill just stick with CFL til I can test something else.

 

[Big Dog]

You really want a LED don't you ...............

I have the first one, it's 2 months old, I'll sell it for $20 if you wanna ride here and get it. Didn't do squat for me. If you get anything get a PAR38 or equivalent and hope!

 

[krshlln300]

I don't WANT LED but I know that in the long run it will save me the most money despite the increased startup charge. Its not like i'm gonna be groing exotic hard to find coral or some rare macro under it but at the same time I don't want the stuff to go sexual or die on me. I just don't know what to get that won't break my bank in electric/replacement costs. Would CFL last more than a few months with little electric? Most of my main lighting is all t5 with stunner accents so IDK what cfl would rlly be like.

 

[Big Dog]

CFL's are very efficient and a 3 dollar bulb will last 6 months minimum. That's almost 10 years worth of bulbs compared to the price of some of those LED's. BTW ........ I used the 75 watt, not the 60's. If LED's would have worked for me I'd say go for it but I just can't endorse them for a fuge. I DO know people that use the PAR38 LED and they have good luck. I've have always had good luck with CFL.

 

[DJ in WV]

I borrowed a single bright marineland from a buddy and tried it for 3 weeks on my 40 breeder fug and all the macros stopped growing and started to look like they where going to go asexual. So im back to 2x65 pcf

 

[hybridazn]

I use a 15" reefbrite 50/50 led strip on my fuge. Chaeto is growing like crazy.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[chucktd321]

Using a 3w Cree XP-G NW on my fuge and is growing so much faster than when it was under T5's