Refugium Light

steelermags · Feb 12, 2012

Looking for advice on what type of light and how many hours to run it above my refugium. 125 gallon tank with sump, skimmer etc.

Just put Chaeto today in refugium and need to know what type of lighting to put above it and how many hours a day it should be on.

Thanks!

stingray 125 · Feb 12, 2012

I run mine 16 hours on with it on when the DT lights are off with a little overlap.

Hope that helps.

reefer209 · Feb 13, 2012

costco sells a flood lamp that is led. i have been told it works well for refuge lighting. i plan to try it soon.

Troylee · Feb 13, 2012

A cheap spiral compact bulb 6500k range works well or any cheap lamp really... If you buy a clamp style fixture with a spiral flood lamp your golden... Check out melves reef he has pix...

typicalwhiteazn · Feb 13, 2012

Some Walmarts in my county (in higher income cities) sell Par30/38 LED bulbs from Lights of America. 11 watts max, 4100K, 3 year warranty. I blast mine 24/7!!, chaeto are filtering around the clock! Copepods population, exploded. Mandarin and Copperband happy

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divewsharks · Feb 13, 2012

I use setup similar to Troylee. Cheap CF from hardware store in a clamp on work light fixture. Total bill like 15-20$.
Works like a champ. Long as you are in. 5500-6500k (close to natural sunlight) you shouldn't have any issues.

todd141 · Feb 14, 2012

divewsharks said:
I use setup similar to Troylee. Cheap CF from hardware store in a clamp on work light fixture. Total bill like 15-20$.
Works like a champ. Long as you are in. 5500-6500k (close to natural sunlight) you shouldn't have any issues.

This is what I use also. Never turn it off.

Mufasa31 · Feb 14, 2012

I run the same 6500k light from Home Depot opposite light cycle from the display tank. This helps keep ph constant at night.

shred5 · Feb 14, 2012

Troylee said:
A cheap spiral compact bulb 6500k range works well or any cheap lamp really... If you buy a clamp style fixture with a spiral flood lamp your golden... Check out melves reef he has pix...

Exactly the same as me in my larger tanks.