What light for Fuge?

[mdisalvo55]

I'm debating on what light to put over my fuge. Should I use the light off Melevs Reef or should I just use my flourescent 19 watt light I have for another tank? Which one will be most energy efficient and effective is what I'm really looking for here.

Thanks

 

[Andrew]

Use the melves reef fuge light. You'll get better growth.

 

[c_stowers]

I get better growth out of a 18W NO bulb than melev's bulb. I've used both and both worked fine, but the 18W NO bulb appears to better for growth to me.

 

[mdisalvo55]

I think I might just do that...I don't want to go find that bulb.

 

[mmotown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7146748#post7146748 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by c_stowers
I get better growth out of a 18W NO bulb than melev's bulb. I've used both and both worked fine, but the 18W NO bulb appears to better for growth to me.

What kind of bulb is that and where can you get it?

 

[c_stowers]

I got the bulb from home depot. It was just called a plant bulb and was in a green package. I can't remember the exact cost, but I think it was only $5-$6.

 

[ReefXpert]

Check out this thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=313318&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[Avi]

I tried that bulb that Melev recommends and it just didn't work for me. I think it might be because the light was a bit to high and it just didn't reach the macro-algae with sufficient intensity to foster any growth. I replaced it with this.....

http://www.lightsofamerica.com/floods.htm

and the Chaeto took of immediately with intensive growth. I dunno...but I'd recommend these over any other lights..

 

[harrisagogetter]

I have that one too and it works great.....

 

[slowECUdiver]

i had a power compact flood light on my fuge...couldn't even tell if anything was growing (using a 2700 kelvin bulb). so i put a different power compact (the spiral kind) over the sump and my baseball size clump of chaeto has doubled in about 10 days. the new bulb is 6500 kelvin, consumes 27 watts (but is equivalent to a 100 watt bulb) and was bought at Home Depot. it comes in a blue package and is manufactured by Consumer Electrics. they also sell a spiral compact in a green package, but i believe the green one is rated at 3000 kelvins.

long story short, buy a bulb that is 6500 kelvins with the highest PAR (36 or 38 i think) you can find.

 

[Spuds725]

For a real small fuge I'd use the melev one-- for a larger (anything 20g or larger) I'd use the LOA fixture-- the melev one pus out a fairly narrow beam-- its a spotlight, vs the LOA which is a flood light....

my 2 cents anyway...