calupera requirements??

[nm reef]

A few weeks ago I set-up a 30 gravity return refugium.....my intention was : 1)increase water volume for better stability...2)remote access for equipment..dosing of additives..and easier access for water changes...3)also wanted advantages of macroalgae and additional sand bed volume for additional filtration
well...its been circulating for a few weeks now and I'll soon be adding the dsb.....20 lbs or so of rubble....and a fairly small amount of caulerpa..........my impression was that this type set-up would be fine with 2x40 50/50 no bulbs for lighting.....but....I've seen several references to needing additional lighting for caulpera........was I wrong to plan 80 watts of no 50/50 for this set-up.....will this type lighting be effective for a refugium???? I really tried to get this planned out and well organised....but it seems I may have made a minor mistake in the lighting department.....so
tell me your opinions on lighting requirements for my refugium......please
and as always thanks for your time and assistance.....

 

[nm reef]

Thats what I was thinkin too yeller.......fairly minimial lighting requirements....but I was researching and came across posts that made the claim that high lighting was needed to prevent the stuff from goin sexual......concerned me a bit.....but then some of those folk believe that nothing lives without millions of watts of the most expensive MH on the market...........think I'll stick to the plan & stay with 2x40 watts of no...50/50

 

[nm reef]

^This weekend I'll be adding the macroalgae...and the 2x40 watt no lighting.....actinic/white....really need to know if this will be good enough to maintain macros in the sump....????

 

[marine qa]

I have a 15w plant/aquarium flo running 24/7 on my 20g sump w/caulerpa and I have to cut it back once a month.
See post below, but imagine a flo instead of the ultra-hot incandescent grow light pictured. Also imagine more caulerpa bc the picture was taken soon after I bought the caulerpa. While your at it imagine me driving a new Ferrari, it can't hurt.

 

[nm reef]

Thx Marine qa......I decided to go with what sounded good to me........2x40 watt no 50/50 bulbs(on 24/7)....did manage to get some calupera and so far it seems fine.....also added 40 lbs sand(20 live/20 not) and about 10-15 lbs crud from the bottom of the lr curing tanks.............hopefully this will seed my refugium and start the process of the advantages I'm looking for.........maybe in a few weeks my 5 ppm nitrates will begin to fall and my yellow tang in the fowlr/ls will get a treat to some fresh clippings.......