LED Flood Light for Refugium

[Mono]

Short story long.

I prefer to grow red algae over chaeto because I've had heard that Tangs and other fish prefer it over green. I have been using a simple clamp/socket with a PAR 38 LED grow light bulb to grow red gracilaria in my refugium. Recently, while on vacation and a friend was feeding my tank the skimmer foamed over and the resulting spray and drip shorted the light. (Usually, I keep the skimmer on the other side of the refugium, far away from the light fixture but somehow it had wandered in my absence.)

While looking for a replacement bulb on Amazon, I noticed several weatherproof/outdoor LED floodlights which would seem to fit the bill perfectly. For example, http://a.co/dngkP9g

1) They would provide some protection against accidental water damage, a good thing in a refugium.

2)In addition, they come in some pretty hefty wattages, 100 watt +. After watching the BRS TV series on chaeto as an effective component of nutrient export, it seem as if no amount of PUR is too much for a refugium.

3) And a bonus they their size and style would fit very will in with my stand.

Has anyone had some experience with any of these lights and/or have any thoughts to share?

Perhaps a brand recommendation (or ones to avoid).

Thanks.
Michael

 

[Tautog]

I had a expensive refuge light which was waterproof too, but still shorted out, I switched to a $10. Grow light, led, from Lowes. Mine shorted out from salt creep, better to spend $10. Than $80.

 

[Mike.kel]

Short story long.

I prefer to grow red algae over chaeto because I've had heard that Tangs and other fish prefer it over green. I have been using a simple clamp/socket with a PAR 38 LED grow light bulb to grow red gracilaria in my refugium. Recently, while on vacation and a friend was feeding my tank the skimmer foamed over and the resulting spray and drip shorted the light. (Usually, I keep the skimmer on the other side of the refugium, far away from the light fixture but somehow it had wandered in my absence.)

While looking for a replacement bulb on Amazon, I noticed several weatherproof/outdoor LED floodlights which would seem to fit the bill perfectly. For example, http://a.co/dngkP9g

1) They would provide some protection against accidental water damage, a good thing in a refugium.

2)In addition, they come in some pretty hefty wattages, 100 watt +. After watching the BRS TV series on chaeto as an effective component of nutrient export, it seem as if no amount of PUR is too much for a refugium.

3) And a bonus they their size and style would fit very will in with my stand.

Has anyone had some experience with any of these lights and/or have any thoughts to share?

Perhaps a brand recommendation (or ones to avoid).

Thanks.
Michael

Feeding algae from a refugium back into your tank instead of throwing it away is not exporting any nutrients. It is re-adding then back into the tank. As long as your good with that, you are growing your own food not filtering the water and removing NO3 and PO4 like chaeto will. Chaeto is also less likely to spread and if it does is easy to remove vs other choices.

 

[Ben Weaver]

I am also interested in this! Ever since i saw diyking do it on a planted tank and compare it to a kessil, I have been wondering if the blue or color changing ones would work for to grow stuff in our tanks?

 

[Ben Weaver]

I was thinking some thing like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XJ2WSHT

 

[Big G]

I use these 12x12 grow light panels. My wife uses them to start vegetable seedlings during the late winter. Thought I'd give it a try in my sump. It works really well. https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01IVQ96KY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Mono]

And why shouldn't we learn from our brothers and sisters who happen to have a green thumb? After all, they probably know more about grow lights than we do.

And that light looks fine.

But I'm still a little obsessed with getting a light with some resistance to water damage, IP64+

I know it might seem crazy but I've really been taken with the idea of maximizing my nutrient export with an uber-powerful refegium light. The BRS team has been focusing on the Kessil Halo H380 which is basically a grow light we are re-purposing to grow algae in a refugium. My only concern with the Halo is that is not sealed and uses a fan for active cooling. One good spritz and that lamp's a'gonner.

Setting price aside for the moment here's one possibility I liked:

https://www.spectrumkingled.com/product/closet-case-140w-led-grow-light/

Any thoughts?

 

[Mono]

I was thinking some thing like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XJ2WSHT

Yes, that's a pretty good idea. But over the weekend I've been thinking why not just go for a really good grow light to make sure the spectrum is right (and just pick up a few more hours overtime to cover the difference.)

 

[Big G]

And why shouldn't we learn from our brothers and sisters who happen to have a green thumb? After all, they probably know more about grow lights than we do.

And that light looks fine.

But I'm still a little obsessed with getting a light with some resistance to water damage, IP64+

I know it might seem crazy but I've really been taken with the idea of maximizing my nutrient export with an uber-powerful refegium light. The BRS team has been focusing on the Kessil Halo H380 which is basically a grow light we are re-purposing to grow algae in a refugium. My only concern with the Halo is that is not sealed and uses a fan for active cooling. One good spritz and that lamp's a'gonner.

Setting price aside for the moment here's one possibility I liked:

https://www.spectrumkingled.com/product/closet-case-140w-led-grow-light/

Any thoughts?

I've think I've seen that light in action. A friend of mine's son grows plants" here in Oregon, it's legal. He uses that light to grow during the winter months when it is gray, cloudy and cold. His plants are thick and healthy. He swears by that light

And why shouldn't we learn from our brothers and sisters who happen to have a green thumb? After all, they probably know more about grow lights than we do.

And that light looks fine.

But I'm still a little obsessed with getting a light with some resistance to water damage, IP64+

I know it might seem crazy but I've really been taken with the idea of maximizing my nutrient export with an uber-powerful refegium light. The BRS team has been focusing on the Kessil Halo H380 which is basically a grow light we are re-purposing to grow algae in a refugium. My only concern with the Halo is that is not sealed and uses a fan for active cooling. One good spritz and that lamp's a'gonner.

Setting price aside for the moment here's one possibility I liked:

https://www.spectrumkingled.com/product/closet-case-140w-led-grow-light/

Any thoughts?

Man, that is one powerful looking light.

 

[Mono]

Hey, that gives me another thought.

If' this reefkeeping thing doesn't work out, I'll always be able to re-purpose my refugium light.

Anyone aware of a similar light? maybe better? or at perhaps cheaper?

 

[Dana Riddle]

I used an inexpensive PAR 38 LED lamp from Lowe's (2800K?) to grow Chaeto in a refugium. Worked fine. Spend more if you want to, but it isn't necessary.

 

[Donovan Joannes]

I used LED flood light (weather proof) before and they still get shorted due to salt creep. Another potential problem will be the aluminium body it was made from, it will oxidized overtime and dripping into the sump. Other than that, it should work perfectly fine.

 

[Mono]

I used an inexpensive PAR 38 LED lamp from Lowe's (2800K?) to grow Chaeto in a refugium. Worked fine. Spend more if you want to, but it isn't necessary.

Dana,

I've watched a youTube video where you share some of you research on pH, lighting and coral growth. I certainly want to thank you for sharing that off the bat.

I was only inspired to go BIG with my refugium light by the BSR series on chaeto growth under various lights/PUR. They really seemed to make a strong case that a CFL with a clamp light will grow chaeto but that a light with higher PUR will grow more -- keeping more/most algae growth out of the display. They were using the Kessil Halo H380 100 watt LED grow light. I was just poking around if anyone on the forum had experience with other LED grow lights with an IP64+ rating.

And thanks for taking the time to post a response.

 

[Mono]

And of course I also want to thank everyone who weighed in with a response.

No one seems that impressed with an IP64+ rating (at least water resistant) or the idea of going BIG with a refugium light. It seems as if an IP64+ rating doesn't necessarily mean a light will hold up to salt creep or splashes that well. And folks are skeptical about dropping some Franklins on a light just to grow a little more algae in a refugium.

But I haven't given up hope yet and will continue to look around for a light an IP64+ LED Grow Light at reasonable price.

 

[jjn42b]

And of course I also want to thank everyone who weighed in with a response.

No one seems that impressed with an IP64+ rating (at least water resistant) or the idea of going BIG with a refugium light. It seems as if an IP64+ rating doesn't necessarily mean a light will hold up to salt creep or splashes that well. And folks are skeptical about dropping some Franklins on a light just to grow a little more algae in a refugium.

But I haven't given up hope yet and will continue to look around for a light an IP64+ LED Grow Light at reasonable price.

did you ever find one?

 

[Mono]

Well not really.

Short story long. The closest I was able to get was the link below. However, I wasn't totally happy with PAR output measured with an Apogee meter. I can't remember exactly what it was. Maybe 200 PAR at @ 1" depth directly under the light mounted about 6" above the water.

Niello 50W Waterproof LED Grow Light, Double Chips Reflector LED Grow Light Panel Full Spectrum Indoor Led Flood lights with Online Switch for Indoor Plants Seeding, Growing and Flowering
by Niello
Link: http://a.co/5g00xq2

I looked around on the interweb and Alibaba for a more powerful light and the prices were still pretty high, at least $300 +.

I guess it's a tall order to manufacture a powerful LED light with no active cooling.

So, I kind of gave up and went with a

Roleadro Led Grow Light Indoor Plant Growing Light
by Roleadro
Link: http://a.co/4JCAUxf

Of course, it is not waterproof but it's also not too expensive. So, if it does get splashed or soaked by an out of control skimmer it's not such a big deal. And the form factor works well under the stand.

So, that's it. Just noticed your in the UK so the market/product mix might be a little different over there.

And a happy new year to all as well.

 

[jjn42b]

Well not really.

Short story long. The closest I was able to get was the link below. However, I wasn't totally happy with PAR output measured with an Apogee meter. I can't remember exactly what it was. Maybe 200 PAR at @ 1" depth directly under the light mounted about 6" above the water.

Niello 50W Waterproof LED Grow Light, Double Chips Reflector LED Grow Light Panel Full Spectrum Indoor Led Flood lights with Online Switch for Indoor Plants Seeding, Growing and Flowering
by Niello
Link: http://a.co/5g00xq2

I looked around on the interweb and Alibaba for a more powerful light and the prices were still pretty high, at least $300 +.

I guess it's a tall order to manufacture a powerful LED light with no active cooling.

So, I kind of gave up and went with a

Roleadro Led Grow Light Indoor Plant Growing Light
by Roleadro
Link: http://a.co/4JCAUxf

Of course, it is not waterproof but it's also not too expensive. So, if it does get splashed or soaked by an out of control skimmer it's not such a big deal. And the form factor works well under the stand.

So, that's it. Just noticed your in the UK so the market/product mix might be a little different over there.

And a happy new year to all as well.

thanks Mono, having the same issues so at least it is not just be not being able to find. been looking at so many of the LEDs such as MarsHydro 300W LED Grow Light, VIPARSPECTRA etc etc not seen the one you have gone for and is a bit different again but had seen some other LEDs from the same company. is it doing the job for you?

Happy New year to you too

 

[Mono]

Seems to be working fine. I have on two tanks. On one the chaeto is growing like crazy. The other so, so. I think do to some unexplained difference in water chemistry.

The lights themselves have worked fine. They have the chip on board technology which has +'s and -'s. It provides as I understand it better spectrum blending which seems like a good idea to me. However, that's just a hunch, nothing scientific. And, as I mentioned it also allows for a smaller form factor which works well under the tight space constraints under a tank stand. On the - side as I understand it the dense packing of the LED's with cob technology adds to the difficulty of dissipating heat hence the active cooling with fans.

Based on my experience I see no reason not to get them. It is possible there are better choices out there. I'm no expert.

 

[wangspeed]

I bought one of these, but can’t review since my tank isn’t running yet. It’s 100W wall draw. Non dimmable.

LED Grow light Full Spectrum 200W, CF Grow Waterproof IP67 LED COB Flowering Grow Lamp, Ultra-Thin Intelligent Control for Vegetables and Blooming, Dual-Use Indoor Outdoor Plant Growth Lighting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776R69WH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RPRsAbA5C338P

 

[PiggyPuffin]

@wangspeed : how did that double COB light from CF Grow work out?