Best LED micro algae light

[Reefnewb]

Looking for recommendations about good LED micro algae light. Don't want a spiral style bulb. I want a full fixture like a marineland led or something wasn't sure how that would work?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Looking for recommendations about good LED micro algae light. Don't want a spiral style bulb. I want a full fixture like a marineland led or something wasn't sure how that would work?

yea those all have the right spectrum, freshwater planted, or the crazy pink leds work too. some folks have good stuff to say about the regular mars aqua too.

 

[djbetterly]

I have a mars hydro, and its incredible! In fact, I've now got algae growing in my skimmer chamber as well...have to figure that one out. I don't think it hurts anything, its just an eyesore.

 

[Reefnewb]

yea those all have the right spectrum, freshwater planted, or the crazy pink leds work too. some folks have good stuff to say about the regular mars aqua too.

Are you about to post a link? Just don't wanna get the wrong one... lol

I have a mars hydro, and its incredible! In fact, I've now got algae growing in my skimmer chamber as well...have to figure that one out. I don't think it hurts anything, its just an eyesore.

Hmmm that sounds to powerful lol.


Another question for you guys! How long do you keep your refungium light on? Mine is the exact opposite of the display.

 

[mcarroll]

Looking for recommendations about good LED micro algae light. Don't want a spiral style bulb. I want a full fixture like a marineland led or something wasn't sure how that would work?

Those would be fine if there was a good amount of power.

Even a 10-20 watt screw-in LED bulb from Home Depot will be mighty intense and grow algae. Just make sure it's outdoor rated – they make them both ways.

Something in the format of a spotlight (which the screw-in types usually are) will help concentrate the algae growth vs a floodlight-type which might get algae growing places you don't want it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Mine is the exact opposite of the display.

same here.
I didn post a link. any light will do really, the$$$$ is up to you.

 

[Reefnewb]

same here.
I didn post a link. any light will do really, the$$$$ is up to you.

Sorry I meant are you Able to post a link... haha I'll post one to see if it's a good kind.

Something like this??

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00L...852&sr=8-9&keywords=marineland+aquarium+light

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yea like that. Current orbit, fluval, a bunch of folks make them.

 

[Damon]

Depends on the area your looking to illuminate.. Any horticultural unit from on Amazon will work(stay away from the 40.00 crap units). But mars, and viparspectra are my favorites.. I started with the 300 watt units, but have moved to the 600 watt unit since I am growing in a stock tank. But any of them will work great.. Just be ready to harvest every week to week and a half..

This is the mars that I started with, that most people have:

MarsHydro Mars300 LED Grow Light Full Spectrum ETL Certification Lighting for Hydroponic Indoor Greenhouse / Garden Plants Growing, 132W True Watt Panel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XC3LBI2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_64bBybRD6H0K7

I then moved to viparspectra 300 which puts out even more light and grows even faster and runs cooler:

VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series 300W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_o7bByb2RGEVV8

And finally, I am now using the viparspectra 600 watt unit below. This one is a monster, and I only run the red and blue led channels:

VIPARSPECTRA PAR600 600W 12-band LED Grow Light - 3-Switches Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H72RD3K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_g9bByb5T0NYRJ

 

[dbl]

The Kessil Purple works very well also. A lot of options as you can tell!!!

 

[djbetterly]

yeah, here you go -
https://www.amazon.com/MarsHydro-Sp...TF8&qid=1483478901&sr=1-1&keywords=mars+hydro

I had mine running exact opposite of my lights as well, and I had to cut it back significantly, in about a week I had zero nitrates.

 

[tigé21v]

Depends on the area your looking to illuminate.. Any horticultural unit from on Amazon will work(stay away from the 40.00 crap units). But mars, and viparspectra are my favorites..

I then moved to viparspectra 300 which puts out even more light and grows even faster and runs cooler:

VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series 300W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_o7bByb2RGEVV8

This is the one I went with. Growth is almost unbelievable. Would regularly harvest a gallon or more of the darkest chaeto I've ever seen. And the individual algae strands are thick and tough, much more so than any I've ever grown under other lights.

 

[Damon]

I watched this before, but found it a very good and simple analysis.. Pay attention especially sheet 1:40...

 

[RJ Harris]

I just buy a grow bulb from Lowe's. it grows chateo like crazy. Every month I thin it out of a 10 by 18 section of my sump and it's usually very packed

 

[BHHOWARD]

@Damon

Do you think the VIPARSPECTRA 300 has better growth than the Hydro Mars 300 because the VIPARSPECTRA has 90° optics and the Hydro Mars has 90/120° mixed optics?

 

[Damon]

@Damon

Do you think the VIPARSPECTRA 300 has better growth than the Hydro Mars 300 because the VIPARSPECTRA has 90° optics and the Hydro Mars has 90/120° mixed optics?

Mnnnn the Mars that I purchased, came with no optics. It was before they were adding them in.. So I'm sure that had a significant impact.. But on top of that, and I cannot remember the diode breakdown for the via(either the small 300 or the 600 that I have now), but visually they even look very different in the color..

My buddy has the Mars now, and I still see it frequently in action.. And it is a good unit.. Not going to lie.. It very well could be the optics, it could be the diode selection, and it could be a mix.. But I know the Via(as good as the Mars is) simply stomps it with anything I put under either unit.. And the little one(300) is a beast!

 

[BHHOWARD]

Mnnnn the Mars that I purchased, came with no optics. It was before they were adding them in.. So I'm sure that had a significant impact.. But on top of that, and I cannot remember the diode breakdown for the via(either the small 300 or the 600 that I have now), but visually they even look very different in the color..

My buddy has the Mars now, and I still see it frequently in action.. And it is a good unit.. Not going to lie.. It very well could be the optics, it could be the diode selection, and it could be a mix.. But I know the Via(as good as the Mars is) simply stomps it with anything I put under either unit.. And the little one(300) is a beast!

Thanks...looks like the Via for me

 

[Damon]

Thanks...looks like the Via for me

No problem.. I like them.. If you can, get one with the color channel switches on it..

 

[BHHOWARD]

No problem.. I like them.. If you can, get one with the color channel switches on it..

Is this the one with the color switches? What are the advantages?

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA...srs=14589301011&ie=UTF8&qid=1490672280&sr=8-6

 

[tigé21v]

This is the one I went with
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
based on someone's recommendation in our local club. He had both the Mars and the Viparspectra. Not sure if the Mars fixture had the optics or not. He was very happy with both units.