Cheap chaeto light recommendations?

[xxkenny90xx]

Looking to replace one of my chaeto fixtures on my 12x12" fuge. What do you all recommend? I am looking at this one but there are many different options that are very similiar and its slightly larger than i was thinking.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

It'll also be growing mangroves

 

[Shaveen]

Following.

 

[joseserrano]

I’d do a higher wattage. You have to out compete the lights in your tank if you want to nutrient export

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I’d do a higher wattage. You have to out compete the lights in your tank if you want to nutrient export

Hmm, I've had great growth for years with just a cheapo led bulb from home depot....

 

[joseserrano]

Hmm, I've had great growth for years with just a cheapo led bulb from home depot....

It’s been my experience that strong light in display needs strong light for your macro to be able to make a good dent nutrient wise

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Bump

 

[xxkenny90xx]

One last bump

 

[gabrieltackitt]

Look into the chaeto max lights. They aren’t as cheap as the option you posted above but they aren’t incredibly expensive and people have really good results with them.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Ok thanks, Where can I find those?

 

[FishGeist]

IME Mangroves grow ok on red/grow lights, but really need full spectrum.

 

[gabrieltackitt]

Here is a link to the larger one, the smaller is out of stock but is also available if this is too big.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/auqa...1-refugium-led-18-watt-innovative-marine.html

 

[xxkenny90xx]

IME Mangroves grow ok on red/grow lights, but really need full spectrum.

I currently have a $6 led bulb from home depot over my mangroves and am happy with their growth (to be honest i dont want them growing any faster). Its maybe 5000k or 6500k, i can't remember. Do you think a plant fixture will be better or worse?

 

[gabrieltackitt]

I currently have a $6 led bulb from home depot over my mangroves and am happy with their growth (to be honest i dont want them growing any faster). Its maybe 5000k or 6500k, i can't remember. Do you think a plant fixture will be better or worse?

I would say you could do both? Use the grow light to grow other macro if you are and keep the led bulb almost as a spotlight for the mangroves? Not sure how exactly it’d work without seeing your setup but seems good in theory.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Here is a link to the larger one, the smaller is out of stock but is also available if this is too big.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/auqa...1-refugium-led-18-watt-innovative-marine.html

That does look really nice but i think a cheapo off brand light will work fine for me. I just cant justify the extra cost (although im sure it is built much better) for probably the same growth.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I would say you could do both? Use the grow light to grow other macro if you are and keep the led bulb almost as a spotlight for the mangroves? Not sure how exactly it’d work without seeing your setup but seems good in theory.

Ok fine heres my messy sump! Some of the mangroves aren't doing so well because they fell in the water for a while. As you can see im doing just what you said, plant led on the back side of the tank for chaeto and the led bulb over the mangroves and the chaeto. I just really want to get rid of the clip on light and add something that I can hang above the mangroves

 

[gabrieltackitt]

That does look really nice but i think a cheapo off brand light will work fine for me. I just cant justify the extra cost (although im sure it is built much better) for probably the same growth.

You do you man! I will suggest, stay away from the LED grow strips that you see all over Amazon. I had some of those at first and all of my chaeto very quickly died. Stick to the real fixtures for growing plants and you should be good to go!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

You do you man! I will suggest, stay away from the LED grow strips that you see all over Amazon. I had some of those at first and all of my chaeto very quickly died. Stick to the real fixtures for growing plants and you should be good to go!

Ah thanks for the tip, I had looked at some of those yesterday but I'll stay away from them!