DIY refugium using flexible led lights and a TLF GFO reactor

[glb]

Hi everyone. I’m planning to convert my gfo reactor to a refugium reactor for a 40g tank. I’ve seen them mounted horizontally and have the space. What LED flexible tubing would be best for chaeto? Can I just pick up something from Home Depot that’s waterproof or is there a certain spectrum/intensity that’s best? If you’ve done this, I’d love to see pics!!! Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hi everyone. I’m planning to convert my gfo reactor to a refugium reactor for a 40g tank. I’ve seen them mounted horizontally and have the space. What LED flexible tubing would be best for chaeto? Can I just pick up something from Home Depot that’s waterproof or is there a certain spectrum/intensity that’s best? If you’ve done this, I’d love to see pics!!! Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Anything with the red and blue leds. Something similar to this

 

[glb]

Anything with the red and blue leds. Something similar to this

Thanks! Just ordered them.

 

[glb]

How do you attach them? I want it to look nice too.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Zip tie each end, the tight coil will hold the rest in place.

 

[glb]

Zip tie each end, the tight coil will hold the rest in place.

I’ve heard that some people heat seal them as well. Do you know anything about that?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I’ve heard that some people heat seal them as well. Do you know anything about that?

You could, i've also heard of people supergluing them on each end. I prefer the zip tie though that way if you ever need to replace it due to burnt out LED's ect... its much easier to take apart.

 

[glb]

Anything with the red and blue leds. Something similar to this

I just ordered a one meter strand. Is that too short? I have a TLF 150 gfo reactor, the smaller one.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I just ordered a one meter strand. Is that too short? I have a TLF 150 gfo reactor, the smaller one.

Depends on how tight you wind it. Thats three feet which should be enough.

 

[glb]

Depends on how tight you wind it. Thats three feet which should be enough.

I just read in a post that someone used 16ft. I’m mainly using mine to help with CO2 and hopefully bump up the ph a bit. Right now I dose Nopox for nutrients, which are under control. Do you think a reactor this small will help with the ph? It runs 7.8-7.9 and it would be nice to get it up to 8.1.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I just read in a post that someone used 16ft. I’m mainly using mine to help with CO2 and hopefully bump up the ph a bit. Right now I dose Nopox for nutrients, which are under control. Do you think a reactor this small will help with the ph? It runs 7.8-7.9 and it would be nice to get it up to 8.1.

I've always ran a full fuge, not very familiar with reactor performance unfortunately