Recommend a Refugium Light - $50 or Less

[LobsterOfJustice]

Hey all,

Looking for a recommendation for lighting my refugium. I have two criteria:

1. The light costs $50 or less.
2. The light has been proven to grow chaeto. Does not have to be the best, the strongest, the most efficient, etc. Just has to have successful results growing chaeto.

Bonus points if you link a thread showing lots of success with this light.

I'm assuming the answer will be some kind of LED bulb or black box fixture from amazon. This is not a discussion of the best refugium light regardless of cost... Please don't suggest a light > $50.

I don't have a good track record with growing algae in a refugium, but generally that doesn't stop me from having a successful tank. I'm not willing to spend $100 - $300 on a light for the refugium and still not have the chaeto grow. I'm not looking to create more problems to solve... if I cant get chaeto to grow, oh well, no refugium for me. My tank is otherwise fine and I dont have a particular problem I am trying to solve. I just want to try some chaetomorpha and see if it grows (unlike my results in all my tanks for the last 15 years). I want to use a known successful light to cross that off the list of possibilities.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Light:

https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-l...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PV22924R66V2V6X7133M

Shroud:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-75-...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CISYrJnd39gCFQeJwAodJZwDog


I have no photo to show but I've used this light for seven months and usually have to trim the chaeto back every two weeks. Works great for me.

 

[Crabs McJones]

@BigJohnny has used this light off amazon with great success, and it falls within your price point. It hits the blue and red spectrum needed for chlorophyll A and B

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07312WKX2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_6VYmAbQH2G87R

 

[Jeepguy242]

after reading alot of threads here with people having success with this one i ordered it and so far it has helped, 2 weeks and my cheato is growing

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HPIPM70/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

also check out this video from BRS

 

[Devan Petersen]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MYXEM9J/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

this is what i use and it seems to work well

 

[Orm Embar]

after reading alot of threads here with people having success with this one i ordered it and so far it has helped, 2 weeks and my cheato is growing

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HPIPM70/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

also check out this video from BRS

I also use the TaoTronics 36w bulb; I splurged for the BulkReefSupply flexible gooseneck mount. It works very well for me (generally undetectable nitrate/phosphate on regular kits; haven't tried low range) for chaeto and Dragon's Breath. I, too, went that route after watching the BRS videos (initially I had the 24w Apollo grow light, but went to the TaoTronics for a wider beam of light).