Refugium Lighting (~$250)

[duberii]

I'm getting the chance to upgrade parts of my tank, and I thought a refugium light would be a great place to start, in hopes of moving toward a triton-based system. I have some basic requirements that I'd like for a light... I'd like it to be an LED around $250, and I unfortunately only have about 12" of space above the water level for the light, so realistically I need a slimmer light. I was looking at something around the power of the Kessil H380. One option I've been looking at is the AI Prime 16 HD fuge light, but I haven;t heard much about it. Does anybody have one and do you recommend it? I'm also open to any other lights that you have in mind. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Doctorgori]

I ran Kessils for a year until I accidentally burt them out. I suggest the smaller cans, I dunno what its called but its like a H80 or sumthin. I had the Horticulture version and its more or less the same thing.
Kessils hold up VERY well under salt splash.
I’m using cheapo Amazon LED’s, no comparison, those Kessils put out.
Try just 1 over 1sq ft... if lower flow area, I’d try chaeto with Ulva combo, or float the ulva on top and something red like red grape underneath.

 

[duberii]

I ran Kessils for a year until I accidentally burt them out. I suggest the smaller cans, I dunno what its called but its like a H80 or sumthin. I had the Horticulture version and its more or less the same thing.
Kessils hold up VERY well under salt splash.
I’m using cheapo Amazon LED’s, no comparison, those Kessils put out.
Try just 1 over 1sq ft... if lower flow area, I’d try chaeto with Ulva combo, or float the ulva on top and something red like red grape underneath.

I was looking at the H80 as well- I have a par38 light right now- it's growing chaeto but certainly not doing as much as I'd like it to. If you think the H80 would do the job, then I'm certainly not opposed to spending the rest of the money on something else- lord knows I'll find something else to buy.

 

[ShepherdReefer]

I like the Kessil H160. Don't remember the cost.

 

[daybreaksky]

Kessil is good if you want bells and whistles, you can also do something like this and spend $200 on fish and coral since this just needs to run 24/7.

 

[duberii]

Kessil is good if you want bells and whistles, you can also do something like this and spend $200 on fish and coral since this just needs to run 24/7.

Amazon links are garbage- they don't show up for whatever reason. Mind sending a screenshot?

 

[Doctorgori]

I was looking at the H80 as well- I have a par38 light right now- it's growing chaeto but certainly not doing as much as I'd like it to. If you think the H80 would do the job, then I'm certainly not opposed to spending the rest of the money on something else- lord knows I'll find something else to buy.

Kessils are well constructed thats for doggone sure. Whatever Kessil you are gonna need 7” from surface clearance. 5” might spread on 12 x 12 I dunno.
Oh forgot to mention:I use cheapo screw in so called waterproof LEDs from amazon. i give the performance a A, I give longevity and durability a B , safety gets a D .., you will get shocked if you touch one while on. FWIW cost was 25 per bulb.
Just advice: but mix your algae types esp. if you ever plan on using vibrant. Hermits & chaeto go well in high flow, Turbos and Ulva in low flow. ulva recycles in the DT with tangs & turbos.

 

[duberii]

Kessils are well constructed thats for doggone sure. Whatever Kessil you are gonna need 7” from surface clearance. 5” might spread on 12 x 12 I dunno.
Oh forgot to mention:I use cheapo screw in so called waterproof LEDs from amazon. i give the performance a A, I give longevity and durability a B , safety gets a D .., you will get shocked if you touch one while on. FWIW cost was 25 per bulb.
Just advice: but mix your algae types esp. if you ever plan on using vibrant. Hermits & chaeto go well in high flow, Turbos and Ulva in low flow. ulva recycles in the DT with tangs & turbos.

I've never heard that you should use multiple algae types- why do you say that? I would also like to start carbon dosing, which seems to be an element of vibrant.

 

[duberii]

I like the Kessil H160. Don't remember the cost.

It does look like the next step down from the H380- I'm just a little concerned about the height of it, but I might be able to make it work.

 

[daybreaksky]

it can be any hydroponic light, they are tuned to red spectrum for plant photosynthesis. all specialty fuge lights offer is controller capability and waterproofing. Unlike reef lights, there is no need to tune light channels or create night/day transitions. you just need 24/7 power source.

 

[Doctorgori]

I've never heard that you should use multiple algae types- why do you say that?

I don’t wanna burn myself misquoting but I thought it was mentioned by Triton or sumthin, I watch too many vids. Anyway, I’ll back that up anyway as there are times chaeto just crawls, sometimes it’s a additive like vibrant, sometimes could be trace, who knows. Ulva is more aggressive and takes low flow better but is not as efficient. Also it’s edible to foxface, tangs and snails, et. I use turbos in my sump to keep the sheets broken up, plus the snail poop is skimmer loving.
Some of my red macros don’t do good under bright light so I mix those in under the canopy so to speak.

 

[daybreaksky]

here is an example

Best Fuge light money can buy

Think I am going to save my pennies and get the H380 but maybe I will try the UFO first. That is high PUR and not a massive mistake if it does not work out. But I cannot argue with BRS logic on not expecting a cheap fuge light to out compete big dollar main display lights in my case will be 3x...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[duberii]

it can be any hydroponic light, they are tuned to red spectrum for plant photosynthesis. all specialty fuge lights offer is controller capability and waterproofing. Unlike reef lights, there is no need to tune light channels or create night/day transitions. you just need 24/7 power source.

I do have one of these types of lights- I could try hooking it up and see if I have any considerable changes in growth- certainly no rush in buying a new light.

 

[Doctorgori]

here is an example

Best Fuge light money can buy

Think I am going to save my pennies and get the H380 but maybe I will try the UFO first. That is high PUR and not a massive mistake if it does not work out. But I cannot argue with BRS logic on not expecting a cheap fuge light to out compete big dollar main display lights in my case will be 3x...

www.reef2reef.com

I have those on two of my tanks; they replaced Kessils so in comparison I’d call the performance average, but par and performance per dollar is great at $32 per
but in pic #1 is the screw in type. The macros go nuts under those. Just don’t touch them while operating, also suggest a good homeowners insurance

 

[duberii]

I have those on two of my tanks; they replaced Kessils so in comparison I’d call the performance average, but par and performance per dollar is great at $32 per
but in pic #1 is the screw in type. The macros go nuts under those. Just don’t touch them while operating, also suggest a good homeowners insurance

This is the one I'm trying (looks similar to that second kind) -it probably has a similar spectrum to the PAR38, but I have it situated about 4" from the water, so in terms of PAR, it's probably around the same level as something like the Kessil H160. The only real difference in this case would be spectrum and reliability- it seems to get pretty hot pretty fast. Seeing as my apartment has next to no insulation and it's starting to get cold at night, perhaps this light could pick up some of the slack from my heaters

Also I just noticed that those filter socks in that second pic are doing nothing lol