How many watts are good for a refugium?
- Thread starter thered
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shoreliner11
Active Member
Squidd what kind of macro is that? Looks like a kind of caleurpa but I can't tell.
ffishermen
Member
bump
I also would like to know more about not having any light at all.
I also would like to know more about not having any light at all.
squidd
Active Member
In my "refugium" (whose "intended purpose" is more akin to an "algal scrubber")...I have a "Wavey Leaf" Caulurpa...This is the type most everyone will tell you to stay away from...
The fuge itself is part of a much larger "Sump/Fuge" system, but holds about 25-30 (actual) gallons of water in the growing area...
Over this I have between 110 and 130 watts of PC lighting...(I'm giving "ranges" because I have a couple systems going, both about the same growing area)...
The bulbs that "seem" to work the best are older (I think out of spectrum) 10k whites...I tried a 10k and 50/50 O3 but didn't get the responce I have now...I also tried "new" 10k bulbs and didn't get the weekly response I get after switching to one "old" and one "new" bulb over each fuge...
I got a "sprig" of this Caulurpa awhile ago from my LFS and had it in my main tank under a "normal" lighting period...and had it go partially sexual once or twice (I didn't have the "mass" I do now so it was no big deal at the time)...
I also had it in an earlier version of a sump/fuge (faster water/center section design) with RPD lighting...also less growth momentum and a slight sexual tendency...
It's been over a year now in a "slow water" fuge lit 24/7 and has NEVER gone sexual or showed signs of "dumping" (turning white/clear)...
Out of that 25-30 gallons of growing area I pull out and fill a 5 qt. "ice cream" bucket every two weeks or so...NitrAtes in reef 0..Nitrates in aggressive (messy eaters) tank consistantly >10...
Reef is Bare bottom..Aggressive is SSB with minor clean up crew...
Fuge started with about "this" ammount of Macro to start...
The fuge itself is part of a much larger "Sump/Fuge" system, but holds about 25-30 (actual) gallons of water in the growing area...
Over this I have between 110 and 130 watts of PC lighting...(I'm giving "ranges" because I have a couple systems going, both about the same growing area)...
The bulbs that "seem" to work the best are older (I think out of spectrum) 10k whites...I tried a 10k and 50/50 O3 but didn't get the responce I have now...I also tried "new" 10k bulbs and didn't get the weekly response I get after switching to one "old" and one "new" bulb over each fuge...
I got a "sprig" of this Caulurpa awhile ago from my LFS and had it in my main tank under a "normal" lighting period...and had it go partially sexual once or twice (I didn't have the "mass" I do now so it was no big deal at the time)...
I also had it in an earlier version of a sump/fuge (faster water/center section design) with RPD lighting...also less growth momentum and a slight sexual tendency...
It's been over a year now in a "slow water" fuge lit 24/7 and has NEVER gone sexual or showed signs of "dumping" (turning white/clear)...
Out of that 25-30 gallons of growing area I pull out and fill a 5 qt. "ice cream" bucket every two weeks or so...NitrAtes in reef 0..Nitrates in aggressive (messy eaters) tank consistantly >10...
Reef is Bare bottom..Aggressive is SSB with minor clean up crew...
Fuge started with about "this" ammount of Macro to start...
footbag
Active Member
The 65w LOA light is definately worth considering. I have one over my 15h refugium. It grows caulerpa fast almost too fast. I take at least a pound out a month. I'm not sure if that says more about the light or my bioload though.
The LOA lights are usually $29.99 at Home Depot(or is it Lowes?) Well one of them. They do burnout, in fact I have had 6 of them burnout, but I was able to return most of them. I'm not sure why, but some burned out on the first night, and some lasted for almost a year. Its still probably cheaper then replacing a PC bulb.
I do have another refugium with 2X9w PC's and a 15w NO and it doesn't come close.
The LOA lights are usually $29.99 at Home Depot(or is it Lowes?) Well one of them. They do burnout, in fact I have had 6 of them burnout, but I was able to return most of them. I'm not sure why, but some burned out on the first night, and some lasted for almost a year. Its still probably cheaper then replacing a PC bulb.
I do have another refugium with 2X9w PC's and a 15w NO and it doesn't come close.
squidd
Active Member
Originally posted by footbag
The LOA lights are usually $29.99... I have had 6 of them burnout, but I was able to return most of them. ...
...Its still probably cheaper then replacing a PC bulb.
Even if you returned 1/2 of them...3 X $30 = $90...For what...65 watts...?
Vs. $80 for 220 watts...
I don't see the savings...:nope: