What bulb for Chaeto ?

[helpme74]

I need some help of picking a bulb for growing Chaeto

Any other kelvin let me know.
Let me know what watt of bulbs to.
Thanks for all your help!!!
if you got a good place to buy the bulbs or model number send me a email
guyfromunion@gmail.com
subject chaeto

 

[sickboy]

I'm gonna tag along with this...

 

[1990jpyj]

i was always told the 6,500 works the best. the 10,000 also works but, if your buying this for your fuge just get the 6,500. it works good for me. i have it over my 10g nano for now(until i can get it back in my fuge). and it seems to do very well

 

[mr_x]

go search plant grow web sites. 6500k

 

[saltygerman]

I use a 6500k cfl flood light bulb. Works great for me.

 

[fishfreek]

I find the lower the kelvin rating, the better growth i get. I use a 3200k 23w spiral type bulb and need to trim my chaeto back once every 10 days or so. I think algae likes more of the red spectrum. I would say, stay in the range of a 2300k - 6500k bulb and you should be fine.

 

[helpme74]

I'm going to get this bulb it's 6500k . I hope this will work.
Will this work?

 

[natclanwy]

That bulb should be fine I have been using a 25w spiral CF bulb in a $5 walmart clamp light for the last 4 years.

 

[mr_x]

.....

 

[gatorwpb]

google "refugium lighting" and go to melev's website.
He does a test with various bulbs and shows cheato growth rates.
I believe 5500k (maybe 5100k) was the best of the spiral CFL bulbs.

 

[helpme74]

I did that with a 5500k no growth and a 5100k no growth thanks anyways

 

[maryg]

I use a 5000K flourescent "under the cabinet" light fixture. It works fine.

 

[mr_x]

helpme74, while i trust the information about plant growth on a horticulture website over a reef keeping website, i'd like to tell you that it's not necessarily the lamp that is preventing the chaeto growth. as stated above folks use a wide variety of lamps with success.
right now i have some botryocladia uvaria growing in one of my tanks with a 14k halide over it.
nutrient rich waters are best for growing algae. maybe your tank is too clean?

 

[helpme74]

I have a 75 gallon reef ready about 65lbs of rock + live sand . I have about 8 fish + 3 shrimp and then some soft and hard coral

 

[mr_x]

how long has it been up?

 

[helpme74]

2 years

 

[mr_x]

then maybe there is not enough nutrients in the water to feed the macros. i don't knwo what else it could be. try the new bulb and see what happens, but i still think it's a nutrient issue.
do you have any algae issues in the display?

 

[helpme74]

no algae issues in the display