Inexpensive Refugium light choice

malira · May 2, 2017

I've read, read, read, watched, and read some more. Choices are 5,000K and/or 6500K daylight bulb or a par38 grow light @$15 to 22.

Would the grow light grow macroalgae better than the cfls? and if not which cfl would grow better?

mtraylor · May 2, 2017

The 7dollar 6500K light grows algae like crazy. Up to you which one you want. I havn't tried the one above.

mtraylor · May 2, 2017

OH yeah the 6500 flood light CFL is at home depot.

goatcorals · May 2, 2017

I got a 54w par38 with red... vegetation grow light. Works great and much better than a low watt cfl.

BRSTV has an investigative video about Refugium lights, and the par bulb did pretty well for the money.

malira · May 2, 2017

Humphrey said:
I got a 54w par38 with red... vegetation grow light. Works great and much better than a low watt cfl.

BRSTV has an investigative video about Refugium lights, and the par bulb did pretty well for the money.

I saw the videos. They didn't use the par38 grow light and all they were growing was chaeto.

I want to grow macroalgae like dragon's breath, grape and Mexican culerpa and chaeto. So I need something for everything.

The one I'm looking at is 34w.

malira · May 5, 2017

malira said:
I've read, read, read, watched, and read some more. Choices are 5,000K and/or 6500K daylight bulb or a par38 grow light @$15 to 22.

Would the grow light grow macroalgae better than the cfls? and if not which cfl would grow better?

I bought this light for my refugium. Another reefer on my home town site MARSH in Houston is going lend me a par meter so I can take readings.

There are 5 colors
Deep red
Red
Orange
Blue and
IR ( I don't know what this is)

I know red and blue are good for growing but I wonder about orange and IR.

Greybeard · May 5, 2017

I was thinking about something like this...
https://www.amazon.com/Jambo-Interg...5V64/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1494017278&sr=8-6

malira · May 5, 2017

Greybeard said:
I was thinking about something like this...
https://www.amazon.com/Jambo-Interg...5V64/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1494017278&sr=8-6

I've been reading about grow lights and what spectrum does what. I will try the light I have for a couple weeks to see if I like it.

I don't know if the plants need the orange and IR, infrared, in the bulb I bought.

660 - deep red
630 - red
610 - orange
460 - blue
730 - infrared

The last site deals with marijuana. I wonder if chaeto follows the same principles.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plant-light-spectrum-growing-flowering-plants-72801.html

https://californialightworks.com/light-spectrum-and-plant-growth/

LetItReef · May 5, 2017

ACKE LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Hydroponics Grow Lights of Plants Veg Herbs (SMD with Swithch) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX1EO3W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_b6FUmdW2co5WV

malira · May 11, 2017

Well after a delivery error the light finally came in.

Let the growing begin.
I will par readings next week.

Hipertec · May 12, 2017

Keep us updated to the growth of the chaeto.

malira · May 12, 2017

Will do. I'm curious too.

malira · May 18, 2017

Hipertec said:
Keep us updated to the growth of the chaeto.

Here is the growth after only 7 days.

Before

After 7 days

dragon99 · May 24, 2017

Did you get PAR readings or actual wattage draw from the bulb? Still seeing good growth?

malira · May 24, 2017

dragon99 said:
Did you get PAR readings or actual wattage draw from the bulb? Still seeing good growth?

I have not been able to get the par meter. I should have time next week.

I am seeing growth but it's only been 10 to 11 days.

drlaurson · Jun 17, 2017

I was just curious as to how your experiment has been going?

malira · Jun 17, 2017

drlaurson said:
I was just curious as to how your experiment has been going?

I don't know if I have enough nutrients to grow chaeto but it's not growing. I have the same issues with any light I have used. I've tried a (75w equivalent) 10.5w cfl, (90w equivalent) 18w led, a 360w reef breeders full led box and now this 36w led grow light. I know the light is enough to grow things. But the chaeto is growing. It's getting darker but not bigger.

KingJason · Jun 17, 2017

I use this: https://www.amazon.com/Galaxyhydro-...F8&qid=1497679536&sr=8-10&keywords=grow+light

It's not $20 but it works well.

malira · Jun 17, 2017

KingJason said:
I use this: https://www.amazon.com/Galaxyhydro-...F8&qid=1497679536&sr=8-10&keywords=grow+light

It's not $20 but it works well.

This is my second attempt to grow chaeto. I don't think I have enough fish and I don't feed enough/over feed to produce enough nutrients. My phosphates go from 24ppb to near 0 in 2 days. I need to ask Andre.