Lighting for refugium/what to put in?

[Marinevrablic]

I'm trying to figure out what kind of lighting I need for my fuge. Right now I have cheato in there with a 2 inch sandbed and liverock. My cheato doesn't seem to be growing it just like a little more seperations from when I first got it. I also want to put more into my refugium just don't know what else to put in there. Thanks for yalls time.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

depends on space for bulb choice.
mine and most plants like the 48 or 56 k (full spectrum) and a 3200k spectrum. I have a large power compact of each.
if you have some cash the "pink" grow light work VERY well.

 

[Marinevrablic]

Where do I get these bulbs?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

home depot . sometimes the dollar store. amazon.
most call the warm white and cool white or full spectrum.
it should be marked on the box the actual color temp. I dont get the ones that dont. names lie, numbers dont.
48,ooo kelvin 32,ooo kelvin 56000 kelvin 28,000 kelvin. one of each in that range.

if you have a lot of distance in the fuge chamber the phillps par 38 LED flood (not spot) is the best bulb ever made. but its POWERFUL and will scorch your plants.
Ive seen nano macro tanks with corals lit by that one

 

[Branespikin]

Phillips par 38 the best. I had some Led in there for months with vrry little growth. Once i changed to this bulb i had to trim my cheato every other week.

 

[Marinevrablic]

I'll take a pic of my fuge. Maybe give yall a better idea to help me. Cause I'm lost.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'll take a pic of my fuge. Maybe give yall a better idea to help me. Cause I'm lost.

yea dont be bro.
The par 38 is a spot light. you need distance. the spiral compact blows light every where.
with those spectrums, jus pic a light that fits and your golden.

here a google image "idea search"
https://www.google.com/search?q=str...efugium+light&chips=q:refugium+light,g_1:reef

 

[Bunnee911]

Don't forget to dose a smidge of iron occasionally to help out the chaeto.

 

[Marinevrablic]

Ok so a little iron...and new light....any other plants I can put in there that will benifit. Or once the cheato is actually going that will be fine for filtration?

 

[pelphrey]

The Chaetomorpha I got from @915MANG in January/February has started to take off!

Out of the USPS Box and bag, 5 ml syringe for comparison -

Small compared to the MA887 -

Add to the Sump -

Chaeto as of now -

I am using the CREE 5000k LED Bulb over my refugium with a small lamp clamp both of these from Home Depot. Intially I removed the shroud from the socket, this turned out to be a bad idea. With such a small sump (Eshopps Cube Sump) the light was hitting my skimmer.

 

[smh254]

This is the bulb I use and it works great.

I have mangrove and chato.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have had great growth with just a flood light and bell like this from Home Depot.

 

[Bunkinator]

I have Calerpa and Chaeto in my Fuge, I run a pair of 24w 22" LED T5 bulbs from Euroquatics 24/7, good macro growth, zero nitrate and Phos are both undetectable

 

[Rogergolf66]

I love my finnex led 24/7 planted tank led light. Look into them. Watch some videos on them

 

[262836292]

Does everyone use sand in their fuge?

 

[Marinevrablic]

Right now my cheato looks a little brown...and still the same size as when I got it lol. Just got a par 38 5000 sylvana flood. So I'm hoping I can turn it around. If not I'll by more and try again.

 

[Marinevrablic]

I got a 2" sand bed in mine. You can do crushed coral. But I prefer sand.

 

[stiky]

I have used many many bulbs. Lately I've had the best luck with the par 38 with the bridge luxe led's in them. Full spectrum owith blue and white and a few reds. eBay 20$ or so. There are posys that say they don't work as well but I've had great success with them.

 

[Marinevrablic]

I have used many many bulbs. Lately I've had the best luck with the par 38 with the bridge luxe led's in them. Full spectrum owith blue and white and a few reds. eBay 20$ or so. There are posys that say they don't work as well but I've had great success with them.

We're some of those plants?

 

[stiky]

Well there is a red spectrum and then there's the bulb I use. Mine have like 8 blue 8 white and 2 red. Or something like that. I haven't used them for plants. Just chaeto. Now it grows out of control haha