Best Leds for Chaeto?

[Dj City]

I can't argue with the results!

I need a smaller light to go over the sock section of my sump. I'm taking the sock out and putting algae in.
The Growstar has worked wonders in the fuge section but will be too much in the smaller sock section.

Any suggestions?

 

[Pete1968]

Hey Reefers,

I am trying to decide between these two LED "UFO" grow fixtures. My chaeto isn't keeping up with my increased bioload under the ol Par38 style bulb. My current Par38 is 24w with 9 red leds (630nm and 660nm) and 3 blue leds (460nm).

These two fixtures seem pretty similar except a slightly different mix of leds EXCEPT one has a 3000k Cree COB in the middle which I've never seen on one of these before.

Here is the first fixture:
Roleadro UFO 138W LED Grow Light for Home Grower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWYCRB2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_8TYmAbT9YVVYY

Doesn't say how many leds of which type but just that they are 3w epi/bridgelux and include the following:

Full spectrum 9 band,including UV and IR: 430~440nm, 450~460nm, 610~615nm, 620~630nm, 650~660nm, white, IR(730nm) , UV 380~400nm, 470nm.

Here is the 2nd fixture with the Cree COB:
UFO Led Grow Light, Growstar 150W Full Spectrum Plant Light with Cree COB and Switch for Indoor Plants Seeding, Growing and Flowering. (150w) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07312WKX2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_6VYmAbQH2G87R

Again doesn't say how many of each type but 3w epi/bridgelux plus a 30w Cree COB and include the following:

Red(650-660nm, 620-630nm), Orange(600-610nm), Blue(430-440nm, 450-460nm, 460-470nm), UV(380-400nm), IR(740-760nm), White(2700-3000K, 4200-4500K), Cree COB(3000K)

Thoughts? I think I can probably find a ufo with just the red n blue like the Par38 as well, there so many different ones on amazon and ebay. These both have 2 year warranties and decent reviews. I just don't know what's best.

big johnny this is just one week growth with the ufo 150 watt, same every week , from a softball size to this basketball size

 

[Dj City]

Dec 31st

Jan 5th

Jan 21st

Feb 7th

Feb 24th

I had the Growstar off for about a week and a half during this time portion while I dealt with flukes.

The Growstar UFO is a BEAST!
The very small ball you see on the left in the first pic was GHA that I tossed. What you see is absolute explosive growth of healthy cheato.

(I have tried several times to delete the pics below but they just keep popping back up so I have no choice but to leave them)

 

[Pete1968]

Dec 31st

Jan 5th

Jan 21st

Feb 7th

Feb 24th

I had the Growstar off for about a week and a half during this time portion while I dealt with flukes.

The Growstar UFO is a BEAST!
The very small ball you see on the left in the first pic was GHA that I tossed. What you see is absolute explosive growth of healthy cheato.

(I have tried several times to delete the pics below but they just keep popping back up so I have no choice but to leave them)

i love it

 

[Dj City]

Any suggestions on a light as good as the Growstar but smaller?

This light would be over the sock section of my sump as I plan to remove the sock and add algae to that area.

 

[Pete1968]

Its about the same size as a par 38 fixture, so I really wouldn’t know now much smaller you could get, and if you do go smaller you won’t get anything close to the growth you need to reduce nutrients in your tank, its not that big

 

[Dj City]

Its about the same size as a par 38 fixture, so I really wouldn’t know now much smaller you could get, and if you do go smaller you won’t get anything close to the growth you need to reduce nutrients in your tank, its not that big

The area I'm trying to light is smaller. I'm not giving the Growstar up. It will still be in use over the fuge.
I'm trying to another smaller light for a different section of my sump.

I am taking the sock out and putting algae in. Or at least that's my idea.

I'm thinking about this
CREATE BRIGHT Led Grow Light Bulb, 28W Plant Bulb Full Spectrum Led Grow Bulb E26
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071QYJJNV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eFGLAbT717D70

 

[Pete1968]

The area I'm trying to light is smaller. I'm not giving the Growstar up. It will still be in use over the fuge.
I'm trying to another smaller light for a different section of my sump.

I am taking the sock out and putting algae in. Or at least that's my idea.

I think removing the filter sock is a mistake, they keep water clear, as far as a light that small i don’t know, i am guessing some kind of nano light, good luck

 

[Dj City]

I'm using the triton method.
They suggest removing the sock. This will give me more algae space and I can have a different algae in that space or more cheato. Or both.
The algae will act as mechanical filtration.

 

[Pete1968]

I'm using the triton method.
They suggest removing the sock. This will give me more algae space and I can have a different algae in that space or more cheato. Or both.
The algae will act as mechanical filtration.

I just started something similar i am using aquaforest 1,2,3 and no water changes, running gfo/carbon reactors but i still believe in filter socks, anyway good luck on your journey

 

[HexaReef]

I had the best results with a regular lightbulb. My cheato would double in 3-4 weeks

 

[trmiv]

I’m also super impressed with the Growstar UFO. I went from a 16w 2700k LED bulb in a Home Depot fixure to the Growstar and the difference in growth has been amazing. I could never grow chaeto this well with previous bulbs I tried.

 

[BigJohnny]

I had the best results with a regular lightbulb. My cheato would double in 3-4 weeks

What did it produce better results than?

 

[BigJohnny]

So yea, to everyone that recently commented about how good their growstar is, I continue to agree. Had mine for a while now and this thing continues to amaze me. I'm not sure how often I trim but the refugium section of my 40b is about 1/3 of the sump filled 3/4 of the way up, and I remove two 1-gallon ziplock bags packed to the brim every time. Probably only 1/3-1/2 of what's in there.

 

[HexaReef]

What did it produce better results than?

I had an 80w led light yrs ago and it didnt do well. But i picked up a clamp on shop lamp and a standard 40w bulb from the local Ace and it took off like a rocket. Id bring anywhere from 1- 1 1/2 gallons of cheato to the LFS almost monthy. Maybe the LED's where too intense? I dont know, but a regular ole light bulb worked the best out of the two..

 

[BigJohnny]

I had an 80w led light yrs ago and it didnt do well. But i picked up a clamp on shop lamp and a standard 40w bulb from the local Ace and it took off like a rocket. Id bring anywhere from 1- 1 1/2 gallons of cheato to the LFS almost monthy. Maybe the LED's where too intense? I dont know, but a regular ole light bulb worked the best out of the two..

Same system?

 

[HexaReef]

Same system?

Yup

 

[Pete1968]

So yea, to everyone that recently commented about how good their growstar is, I continue to agree. Had mine for a while now and this thing continues to amaze me. I'm not sure how often I trim but the refugium section of my 40b is about 1/3 of the sump filled 3/4 of the way up, and I remove two 1-gallon ziplock bags packed to the brim every time. Probably only 1/3-1/2 of what's in there.

Ditto

 

[Dj City]

Another Growstar may be tooooo much light for the sock section.

I'm looking at these lights...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0747LBWNB/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AF91GHLCK8O4V

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071QYJJNV/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A122F8GW92NYV8

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013DU1EHQ/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1Q9KJLM58L1E7

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2KUZVNQ9LP7N9

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075861YV2/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ALJKWBRSAFZ0A

The Growstar has proven that expensive does NOT mean the best.
I think lights 1 and 2 are pretty much the same light so saving a dollar or two is a good thing if they would work. The other lights are slightly more powerful (So they say)

Your thoughts on the above lights?
Anything else I should be looking at?

 

[HexaReef]

Another Growstar may be tooooo much light for the sock section.

I'm looking at these lights...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0747LBWNB/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AF91GHLCK8O4V

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071QYJJNV/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A122F8GW92NYV8

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013DU1EHQ/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1Q9KJLM58L1E7

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2KUZVNQ9LP7N9

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075861YV2/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ALJKWBRSAFZ0A

The Growstar has proven that expensive does NOT mean the best.
I think lights 1 and 2 are pretty much the same light so saving a dollar or two is a good thing if they would work. The other lights are slightly more powerful (So they say)

Your thoughts on the above lights?
Anything else I should be looking at?

I'd go for it.