Good Proven Chaeto Light

[JCSReefing]

looking for imput on a good refugium specifically chaeto light. Thinking of the H80 Kessil but wondering if anyone else had any input on reasonably priced light with great growth?

 

[scuzy]

H380 kessil,. Mars hydro 300w both grew chaeto like mad for me.

 

[Orm Embar]

I just switched from a 24 watt LED grow bulb to a 36 watt one (TaoTronics) - https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Lights-Hydroponics-Organic-Applicable/dp/B01HPIPM70. Other people have had it work well for them. If you need more wattage than that, then a Mars Hydro higher output system or a large Kessil would be the next step (but I have no experience with those).

 

[Reef of Fillory]

I've had great success so far with the TaoTronics that Orm linked to. In 2 weeks I went from a less than tight fistfull of chaeto to a basketball [thick, dense and heavy] size chunk of chaeto in my 32 gallon.

I like to overdo things, so i've purchased a H380 for my fuge which will arrive tomorrow, but the TaoTronics works great! If you have a large area, throw a couple of them on it, they're cheap and fit in to any standard HD or Lowes socket with reflector [but don't use the reflector part]

 

[jcl123]

Hey folks, I am looking at making a buying decision on one of these grow lights, so I would be interested to know what you think.

This seems like a popular choice:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XC3LBI2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_xNq-wb8TCRDJ3?th=1

Then they came out with a newer version here:
https://www.amazon.com/Marshydro-Ma...8&qid=1511880198&sr=1-2&keywords=marshydro+II
Looks like they added IR....

Then they have this one, not sure about the differences:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JUI6AR...8f6e-55bc3c29776a&ie=UTF8&qid=1511880198&sr=3

This one I think is quieter:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_o7bByb2RGEVV8


I just purchased a Trigger Systems Triton 44, so my refugium space is 15.5" x 22". I think these grow lights are a better fit, and much cheaper than the Kessil H380. Although I am less concerned with price, mostly I want "bang for the buck". I know not to get some of the $15 garbage, but even some that are under $100 seem almost too cheap.

Because you can get into things like this which all claim to be "the best":
https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Platinum-P300-12-band-Grow/dp/B00NTBS91Y
It has IR and UV and all that jazz..... but it is similar in size and output to the one's above. Has a longer warranty.... can't tell if it would actually work better, or maybe is just higher quality / more durable.

Some of these have the "veg" and "bloom" buttons, but looks like for our use case we would only need veg? So potentially much of the unit would not be used. There are a few that are adjustable, it would be nice to be able to vary intensity rather than distance, but instead they seem to be able to vary their spectrum, and that seems like it is getting too complicated.

There are a few available that are "waterproof" that would be good for the salt water exposure. How have you guys done with corrosion on these units? My sump is covered, so it might not be that much of a problem.

Lastly, how about noise? Too loud for living room? Although you could run it only at night.

Thanks very much

-JCL

 

[Bigzman]

I just switched from a 24 watt LED grow bulb to a 36 watt one (TaoTronics) - https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Lights-Hydroponics-Organic-Applicable/dp/B01HPIPM70. Other people have had it work well for them. If you need more wattage than that, then a Mars Hydro higher output system or a large Kessil would be the next step (but I have no experience with those).

Orm, how did you like the toatronics?

 

[Orm Embar]

I like mine; it grows chaeto well, although my growth is relatively minimal as I also have display macro competing for nutrients and I don't feed a lot. I should probably feed more, frankly. In retrospect, I'd buy it again.

 

[10Seconds]

I just switched from a 24 watt LED grow bulb to a 36 watt one (TaoTronics) - https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Lights-Hydroponics-Organic-Applicable/dp/B01HPIPM70. Other people have had it work well for them. If you need more wattage than that, then a Mars Hydro higher output system or a large Kessil would be the next step (but I have no experience with those).

I am using the same bulb. Works great. From googling it, seems a lot of "indoor farmers" are also using it with great results. My fuge is about 1/3 of a 40 breeder in size just fyi