Anyone light their refugium from the side? Like a reactor?

[fish farmer]

I notice many who run refuges have a light illuminating from the top. I currently do the same with a cheap Home Depot grow bulb.

I'm rebuilding my 20 gallon high sump and am going to have a deep refuge area first in line, it will be 10 " deep but only 6" by 12"wide, my return will be coming in here and I may install a sock holder as well. Space is getting tight from above and assume I will have salt creep affecting any light sitting above.

I have space next to the tank for those 12" square flat LED grow fixtures. I would think this would work fine and keep the light more protected from the elements above.

Any thoughts?

 

[Mjrenz]

I notice many who run refuges have a light illuminating from the top. I currently do the same with a cheap Home Depot grow bulb.

I'm rebuilding my 20 gallon high sump and am going to have a deep refuge area first in line, it will be 10 " deep but only 6" by 12"wide, my return will be coming in here and I may install a sock holder as well. Space is getting tight from above and assume I will have salt creep affecting any light sitting above.

I have space next to the tank for those 12" square flat LED grow fixtures. I would think this would work fine and keep the light more protected from the elements above.

Any thoughts?

I actually light mine from above and from the side with some cheap Amazon leds and they work great for me

 

[ccombs]

I actually light mine from above and from the side with some cheap Amazon leds and they work great for me

 

[Mjrenz]

Gangsta

 

[Mjrenz]

I notice many who run refuges have a light illuminating from the top. I currently do the same with a cheap Home Depot grow bulb.

I'm rebuilding my 20 gallon high sump and am going to have a deep refuge area first in line, it will be 10 " deep but only 6" by 12"wide, my return will be coming in here and I may install a sock holder as well. Space is getting tight from above and assume I will have salt creep affecting any light sitting above.

I have space next to the tank for those 12" square flat LED grow fixtures. I would think this would work fine and keep the light more protected from the elements above.

Any thoughts?

If you want to light it from above this would fit the dimensions you listed perfectly, I think I paid less than $20 for this and it grows algae like crazy in my fuge

 

[Gablami]

Yes, from the side and top. Panel grow light mounted on the cabinet door:

 

[beaslbob]

FWIW I used egg crate to partition my old 55g about 3" from the back glass. then added 2 4' 2 tube shop behind the tank pointing forward to light up that area.

Worked great. Macros took off and nitrates dropped to 0 in three weeks.
my .02