Refugium lighting and nutrient export

[PerplexyHexy]

I swear I read awhile back that on large systems that use strong lights that a more intense fuge light is needed to get proper nutrient export. Ive been running a 300 gallon frag system split into 2 tanks with 2 large sumps. 1 sump has liverock with a kessil 150 above it and the other has a 40 gallon refugium with caulerpa, dragons breath, and chaeto... I originally was using a 300w cannagrow light for 6 hours reverse light schedule and it was keeping no3 near 0 and po4 around .06 The light consumed alot of electriy, but it was doing the job. A buddy of mine gave me a kessil h80 so I tried that for a few days and po4 and no3 shot up... Is this because the lighting was not adequate for the photo period the macros needed to consume nutrients? Anyway... I just went back to the 300w and will be testing daily to see if it has a better effect... any input you guys have in fuge lighting on larger systems would be great... Like I said I swore I read a few things on stronger display lights mean needing a strong fuge light... hoping this solves the situation rather than dosing nopox or getting the gfo ready

 

[cracker]

Great question, I also understand the ref lighting needs ti be strong enough to compete with light over the display . I'm Following .

 

[Hermie]

An h80 is way lower power than 300W of just about any type of bulb, LED CFL or incandescent. h80 is a 16 watt LED, I know not all watts are created equal but that's a 20X difference.

Especially when at such a distance above the water line.

 

[KrisReef]

Yup, watts don’t equal par but a 300 w grow light vs a lower watt led is probably not going to give you the same results for algae growth and nutrient uptake.
On the other hand, a 300w UV light might not grow as much algae as a 3watt 6000k spectrum led.

 

[Hermie]

Yup, watts don’t equal par but a 300 w grow light vs a lower watt led is probably not going to give you the same results for algae growth and nutrient uptake.
On the other hand, a 300w UV light might not grow as much algae as a 3watt 6000k spectrum led.

yeah but it will sure be clean chaeto lol

 

[laverda]

I have 2 inexpensive ($25) 50 watt LED grow lights on my 300. They grow hair algae and my mangroves like crazy. I have Simple ATSs set up under my mangroves and in my overflow. See my ATS DIY thread for pics. My cheeto tends to get over run with hair algae. I can control my nitrate and phosphate levels by how many hours I run them. My corals did not like when they went to zero. I don’t know the ideal levels, but it is clearly not zero.

 

[Lasse]

I have 2 inexpensive ($25) 50 watt LED grow lights on my 300. They grow hair algae and my mangroves like crazy. I have Simple ATSs set up under my mangroves and in my overflow. See my ATS DIY thread for pics. My cheeto tends to get over run with hair algae. I can control my nitrate and phosphate levels by how many hours I run them. My corals did not like when they went to zero. I don’t know the ideal levels, but it is clearly not zero.

Today, many reefers report a PO4 levels between 0.03-0.08 mg/l and NO3 concentrations around 1-5 mg/l as ideal - but it differs a lot. In my mixed reef PO4 can be up to 0.1 mg/l and NO3 up to 10 mg/l at least without any visable problems - once I read 0.16 mg/l PO4 without problems. My wanted values are 0.05 and between 2-5 mg/l. why - I do not really know but I need something to relate on

Sincerely Lasse

 

[laverda]

I don’t recall my PO4 specifically. I think it was about .15 with my NO3 20-25. I have no algae in my tank, however as I said I have lots in my sump.

 

[Lasse]

If it works - stay where you are.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[PerplexyHexy]

Im currently at .14 po4 and 5 no3

 

[Dana Riddle]

Today, many reefers report a PO4 levels between 0.3-0.8 mg/l and NO3 concentrations around 1-5 ppm mg/l as ideal - but it differs a lot. In my mixed reef PO4 can be up to 0.1 and NO3 up to 10 at least without any visable problems - once I read 0.16 mg/l PO4 without problems. My wanted values are 0.05 and between 2-5 mg/l. why - I do not really know but I need something to relate on

Sincerely Lasse

Hi Lasse,
Do you mean PO4 as P and NO3 as N, or as PO4 and NO3? Taken literally, you mean PO4 and NO3.

 

[Lasse]

I did the number wrong. I mean 0.03 - 0.08 mg/l as PO4 and 1 - 5 mg/l as NO3. Not as PO4-P or NO3-N. Thanks for the correction. I have edit the orginal post

Sincerely Lasse

 

[PerplexyHexy]

So after 24hrs no3 went down to 2.5 and po4 is at .1

 

[PerplexyHexy]

I would say the bigger light has helped out... lol!!! Should start to lower so I can find that happy place I want... no3 around 2.5-5 and po4 around .05-.1

 

[Captmcfly]

I use this

https://www.amazon.com/HIGROW-Doubl...NV0JPCKAAXW&psc=1&refRID=FTQFB1K4YNV0JPCKAAXW