Is this lighting enough for microalgaes or even anemones?

[HAAAAAAAA]

I wanted to make a new 30 gallon tank filled with microalgaes and connect it to my bigger aquarium as both a refugium and aswell as to keep some few extra fish

I found a light which has a warm temperature of 12k to 15k containing white, blue and red leds, is this enough for the growth of microalgaes aswell as anemones?

 

[JoJosReef]

I wanted to make a new 30 gallon tank filled with microalgaes and connect it to my bigger aquarium as both a refugium and aswell as to keep some few extra fish

I found a light which has a warm temperature of 12k to 15k containing white, blue and red leds, is this enough for the growth of microalgaes aswell as anemones?

What is the wattage? Do you know what size the LED chips are (e.g., 3W, 0.25W, etc., also how many chips)? Can you link the light?

Also what dimensions is the tank?

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

What is the wattage? Do you know what size the LED chips are (e.g., 3W, 0.25W, etc., also how many chips)? Can you link the light?

Also what dimensions is the tank?

For the watts it is 18

Tank dimensions is LxWXH 23x18x18 in inch which will be connected below a 150 gallon, as for the link https://petsgool.com/products/sunsu...vMg7xvZSgh09XiuuHvgneD8wLLNxgVnRoCD6cQAvD_BwE

 

[JoJosReef]

For the watts it is 18

Tank dimensions is LxWXH 23x18x18 in inch which will be connected below a 150 gallon, as for the link https://petsgool.com/products/sunsu...vMg7xvZSgh09XiuuHvgneD8wLLNxgVnRoCD6cQAvD_BwE

That may be enough for some slow growing macros. You would want something closer to 60 watts like a Noopsyche mini or, better yet, 140 watts like a Noopsyche K7 pro, if you want nems. I'm assuming you are thinking of BTAs, but if you are thinking of RFAs, then there is a little more flexibility, although not 18 watts flexible.

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

That may be enough for some slow growing macros. You would want something closer to 60 watts like a Noopsyche mini or, better yet, 140 watts like a Noopsyche K7 pro, if you want nems. I'm assuming you are thinking of BTAs, but if you are thinking of RFAs, then there is a little more flexibility, although not 18 watts flexible.

Thank you for the suggestions! Though sadly my options are limited, i live in india so I can't get most of the popular brands unless I have to pay a fortune to get them imported here which is quite a bit.

What are the types of macroalgaes you suggest?

And yes! I thought of keeping some BTAS since they are considered to be the most easy compared to others, would that be okay?

 

[Jekyl]

Thank you for the suggestions! Though sadly my options are limited, i live in india so I can't get most of the popular brands unless I have to pay a fortune to get them imported here which is quite a bit.

What are the types of macroalgaes you suggest?

And yes! I thought of keeping some BTAS since they are considered to be the most easy compared to others, would that be okay?

18w isn't enough for really any anemone. I have 90w kessil lights turned all the way up that my nems sit right under. Can you get any of the black box lighting like marsaqua, philzon, or viparspectra?

 

[JoJosReef]

Thank you for the suggestions! Though sadly my options are limited, i live in india so I can't get most of the popular brands unless I have to pay a fortune to get them imported here which is quite a bit.

What are the types of macroalgaes you suggest?

And yes! I thought of keeping some BTAS since they are considered to be the most easy compared to others, would that be okay?

My recommendation for lower light would be codium and Gracilaria hayi. The latter may prefer more light, but it is very hardy so will likely survive. Caulerpa may do OK and not grow too ramant with the lower light, but I would be a bit concerned about it going sexual under these "stress" conditions.

Any anemone you buy with that light will likely starve. I would continue shopping and look for higher wattage if you really want a nem.

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

18w isn't enough for really any anemone. I have 90w kessil lights turned all the way up that my nems sit right under. Can you get any of the black box lighting like marsaqua, philzon, or viparspectra?

I sadly can't get any of the companies you have mentioned but thanks for the suggestions!

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

My recommendation for lower light would be codium and Gracilaria hayi. The latter may prefer more light, but it is very hardy so will likely survive. Caulerpa may do OK and not grow too ramant with the lower light, but I would be a bit concerned about it going sexual under these "stress" conditions.

Any anemone you buy with that light will likely starve. I would continue shopping and look for higher wattage if you really want a nem.

Thank you so much! I just saw that there's a higher wattage of the same light which is 28 watts though it is meant for longer aquariums, is this alright?

Or is it possible to just reduce the height of the aquarium to 15 inches and use the 18 watt version?

SunSun ADS-500H Marine LED Light | 30" 28W

Enhance your marine aquarium with the SunSun ADS-500H 30" 28W LED Light. Supports coral growth and showcases vivid aquatic colors.

petsgool.com

 

[JoJosReef]

Thank you so much! I just saw that there's a higher wattage of the same light which is 28 watts though it is meant for longer aquariums, is this alright?

Or is it possible to just reduce the height of the aquarium to 15 inches and use the 18 watt version?

SunSun ADS-500H Marine LED Light | 30" 28W

Enhance your marine aquarium with the SunSun ADS-500H 30" 28W LED Light. Supports coral growth and showcases vivid aquatic colors.

petsgool.com

For lighting, your best bets from that site are:

Maxspect MJL165 Blue – High-Performance Aquarium LED Light

Maxspect MJL165 Blue delivers vibrant blue spectrum LED lighting for reef tanks, enhancing coral growth and vivid coloration with energy-efficient performance.

petsgool.com

This light will be more than sufficient for any macroalgae you want in the 23"x18"x18" tank (Caulerpa, Botrycladia, Gracilaria, Halymenia, Codium, etc.)
It will also support BTAs. BTAs also need good water conditions and knobby rocks to plant their feet, but the light is very important. Other nems like RFAs and Maxi Minis would be perfectly fine under this light. Even LTAs. 65 watts is fine for what you want.

MAXSPECT MJ L130 Nano Marine Light – Compact Reef LED

MAXSPECT MJ L130 Nano Marine Light delivers powerful, compact LED lighting perfect for nano reef tanks. Energy-efficient with full spectrum for vibrant corals.

petsgool.com

This light will have a bit less coverage that the above, so it will mostly hit about the middle 18-20" of the tank. Two of these would cover the whole tank (but at that point, just get the one above). Macros should be fine. RFAs and Maxi Minis would grow fine under this. BTAs might be a bit stretched, so I'd put a tall rock in the very middle for them.

MAXSPECT MJ L130R Refugium Light – Efficient Aquarium Lighting

MAXSPECT MJ L130R refugium light offers energy-efficient, high-quality lighting ideal for macroalgae growth and refugium health in marine and reef tanks.

petsgool.com

This is the same as the previous one but with a Refugium spectrum (more red). Would be good for macroalgae. Same coverage as above.

Fluval Marine 3.0 Bluetooth LED 22W – 15-24" Reef Light

Fluval Marine 3.0 Bluetooth LED 22W delivers customizable full-spectrum lighting for reef tanks 15-24" (38-61 cm) with smart Bluetooth control.

petsgool.com

This light will give you a little bit more wattage (4 Watts more). But at the price differential, I can't recommend it. Not a great light on top of it all, although the spectrum is pretty. I'd go with one of the above ones over this. BTAs have not done well under this light for me.

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

For lighting, your best bets from that site are:

Maxspect MJL165 Blue – High-Performance Aquarium LED Light

Maxspect MJL165 Blue delivers vibrant blue spectrum LED lighting for reef tanks, enhancing coral growth and vivid coloration with energy-efficient performance.

petsgool.com

This light will be more than sufficient for any macroalgae you want in the 23"x18"x18" tank (Caulerpa, Botrycladia, Gracilaria, Halymenia, Codium, etc.)
It will also support BTAs. BTAs also need good water conditions and knobby rocks to plant their feet, but the light is very important. Other nems like RFAs and Maxi Minis would be perfectly fine under this light. Even LTAs. 65 watts is fine for what you want.

MAXSPECT MJ L130 Nano Marine Light – Compact Reef LED

MAXSPECT MJ L130 Nano Marine Light delivers powerful, compact LED lighting perfect for nano reef tanks. Energy-efficient with full spectrum for vibrant corals.

petsgool.com

This light will have a bit less coverage that the above, so it will mostly hit about the middle 18-20" of the tank. Two of these would cover the whole tank (but at that point, just get the one above). Macros should be fine. RFAs and Maxi Minis would grow fine under this. BTAs might be a bit stretched, so I'd put a tall rock in the very middle for them.

MAXSPECT MJ L130R Refugium Light – Efficient Aquarium Lighting

MAXSPECT MJ L130R refugium light offers energy-efficient, high-quality lighting ideal for macroalgae growth and refugium health in marine and reef tanks.

petsgool.com

This is the same as the previous one but with a Refugium spectrum (more red). Would be good for macroalgae. Same coverage as above.

Fluval Marine 3.0 Bluetooth LED 22W – 15-24" Reef Light

Fluval Marine 3.0 Bluetooth LED 22W delivers customizable full-spectrum lighting for reef tanks 15-24" (38-61 cm) with smart Bluetooth control.

petsgool.com

This light will give you a little bit more wattage (4 Watts more). But at the price differential, I can't recommend it. Not a great light on top of it all, although the spectrum is pretty. I'd go with one of the above ones over this. BTAs have not done well under this light for me.

Thank you for taking your time for recommending me the lights! I'll definitely try to go for the 165 since it looks like I'll have no worries in the lighting range!

 

[JoJosReef]

Thank you for taking your time for recommending me the lights! I'll definitely try to go for the 165 since it looks like I'll have no worries in the lighting range!

No problem! Yeah, it's the more pricey light, but my experience so far upgrading light after light has been to find one that is reliable and doesn't break the bank so you don't have to spend extra too many times upgrading.