Refugium Lighting - IP64+

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Inspired by the BRS team and their recent forays into refugium lighting, I'm still searching for the perfect refugium light.

I think one important consideration that has been overlooked is a little protection against water damage. Probably that refugium light is going to be stuck in a really crowded tank stand with salt water on all four sides just waiting to be hit with a spritz from something.

For me, the moment of truth came while I was on vacation and my skimmer foamed over. But I've certainly splashed my light a few times and always been relieved when it kept working.

If I'm going to drop $300 on an amazing refugium light to replace my clamp light, I'd like it to be able to withstand at least a minor hit. In addition, I can't really imagine that it's a great place for an actively cooled light with a fan. My god, salt seems to creep everywhere down there.

So, here's one possibility:

https://www.spectrumkingled.com/product/closet-case-140w-led-grow-light/

Any thoughts?
 
Nutramar Foods
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Yes, those look decent.

But I guess I was looking to take my refugium game to a whole new level. As I said inspired by the BRS team. I think their recent videos made a pretty strong case for giving it a try.

And, I am still hung up on getting an IP64+ light. It just seems to me like a good idea. So, for example, when my skimmer foamed over the water hit the bottom of the display tank, traveled a few inches and ended up dripping down on my clamp light shorting it out.

And I've had other lights down below and after time they all seem to get salt encrusted.

So, it seems to me having a sealed light (IP64+) for safety and peace of mind and maybe durability wouldn't be a bad thing.

The conditions of a light in a refugium placed in a tank stand are a lot different than a light hanging 6 inches above the tank.

And why shouldn't we learn from our brothers and sisters who happen to have a green thumb? After all, they probably know more about grow lights than we do. I think the Kessil Halo H380 is bascially a grow light we are re-purposing to grow algae in a refugium. My only concern with the Halo is that is not sealed and uses a fan for active cooling. One good spritz and that lamps a'gonner.

I am just wondering if we can go one better...
 
Tidal Gardens
Ok. It's just algae though.
I grow orchids and stuff besides algae too. It's not hard.

Most championship orchids are done outside or inside under a cool white and warm white t12.
 
I just want to thank everyone who weighed in with a response.

In general, no one seems that impressed with an IP64+ rating (at least water resistant) or the idea of going BIG with a refugium light. It seems as if an IP64+ rating doesn't necessarily mean a light will hold up to salt creep or splashes that well. And folks are skeptical about dropping some Franklins on a light just to grow a little more algae in a refugium.

But I haven't given up hope yet and will continue to look around for a light an IP64+ LED Grow Light at reasonable price.
 
I found it is really not that hard to grow algae in refugium.
There are plenty of cheap ($20 to $40) led grow light in the 40 to 50w range on Amazon that has no fan and with an aluminum body.
I tried several, they all works. Algae double size every week.
I think a more powerful light can grow algae faster, to a limit.
I still think spending hundreds of dollar on refugium light may not worth it.
 
I really like my h380 and have wondered about splashing damage, but I am willing to roll the dice with Kessil's warrantee and customer service as I did register the light online which I don't normally bother with - fully aware that direct water damage will not be covered, but hopefully with approved Kessil vendors selling the h380 as a refugium light normal wear and tear will be covered should it ever become an issue.

There are many people that are going big with a refugium light though, BRS was sold out of h380s for quite a while.
 
Ecoscape Reef Rock
saltyfilmfolks said:
Ok. It's just algae though.
I grow orchids and stuff besides algae too. It's not hard.

Most championship orchids are done outside or inside under a cool white and warm white t12.
Click to expand...

Are you growing and participating championship with orchids? Used to own some, but i could never get them longer then 1 year.
 
Deniss said:
Are you guys not worried of stripping the water to clean for your corals?
Click to expand...
Nope. I have done it in the past. But like always , watch the corals and test. I would say the same about gfo.


Deniss said:
Are you growing and participating championship with orchids? Used to own some, but i could never get them longer then 1 year.
Click to expand...
We're in a local club here. We're the newbs.
It's remarkably like a reef tank. Water , rodi water, air flow, light,ph, nitrates phosphates and trace minerals.
 
Deniss said:
Are you guys not worried of stripping the water to clean for your corals?
Click to expand...

Nice thing about chaeto for the most part is that in my experience will not out compete corals if you have a decent bioload and feed the system.

The hobby swings hard back and forth. Until recently nitrates and phosphates were bad, now they are good and many people are worried about starving coral and dose phosphate and nitrate.

My experience is that my sps tank was the best with 0ppb phosphates - but heavy feeding - and just a trace of nitrates - I did dose nitrate to get there. Even a bit of phosphate and mari acros would start to brown for me. It's how I could tell when to change gfo.

IMG_6761.JPG
 
AS
dz6t said:
I am wondering how does this 80w $22 grow light compared to the 90w $300 kessil.
Click to expand...

Tried similar style bulbs for terrariums a few times over the past couple years. They all failed very quickly. Don't know if it's the heat (90w is a lot with passive cooling) or quality of LEDs or what.
 
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saltyfilmfolks said:
Nope. I have done it in the past. But like always , watch the corals and test. I would say the same about gfo.



We're in a local club here. We're the newbs.
It's remarkably like a reef tank. Water , rodi water, air flow, light,ph, nitrates phosphates and trace minerals.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a lot of fun, do you participate in the show aswell or just keep it at growing them?

hart24601 said:
Nice thing about chaeto for the most part is that in my experience will not out compete corals if you have a decent bioload and feed the system.

The hobby swings hard back and forth. Until recently nitrates and phosphates were bad, now they are good and many people are worried about starving coral and dose phosphate and nitrate.

My experience is that my sps tank was the best with 0ppb phosphates - but heavy feeding - and just a trace of nitrates - I did dose nitrate to get there. Even a bit of phosphate and mari acros would start to brown for me. It's how I could tell when to change gfo.

IMG_6761.JPG
Click to expand...

That's true, same with the water changing. I have upped my chaeto lighting, and started feeding the corals more 3 times a week. Let's see what it does too the tank.
Nice tank btw!
 
Deniss said:
Sounds like a lot of fun, do you participate in the show aswell or just keep it at growing them?



That's true, same with the water changing. I have upped my chaeto lighting, and started feeding the corals more 3 times a week. Let's see what it does too the tank.
Nice tank btw!
Click to expand...
Yup. When we have nice blooms we take them in to the show or meetings. Very sweet group of people there.
 
joseserrano said:
I bought this guy recently, its better then the light I had on their, Im happy with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Full-spectrum-80W-E27-LED-Grow-light-Grow-Lamp-Bulb-for-Flower-Plant-Hydroponics/352087518511?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648
Click to expand...
I bought a 54 watt led lamp like your 80 watt one. It lasted about 6 months and the driver went out on it. I then stuck a Marineland led refugium light on it, run about 30 bucks, and it grew chaeto better than the grow lamp. The Marineland just had white leds and a few blue ones. I was surprised.
 
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Tidal Gardens
I have 2 x 60w Solla LED flood lights over my refugium tank. The lights are rated 5500-6500k. I picked them up on Amazon for ~$40 and they are water proof rated IP65. My refugium tank is just getting started but some of the Halimeda has already started to grow in the tank.

https://www.amazon.com/5500-6500K-Floodlight-Waterproof-Landscape-Spotlight/dp/B019O1H3T6/ref=pd_sim_60_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B019O1H3T6&pd_rd_r=APFMYNBR7HTMD9P8MDMX&pd_rd_w=H1Gzu&pd_rd_wg=5UQyr&psc=1&refRID=APFMYNBR7HTMD9P8MDMX
 
Deniss said:
Are you guys not worried of stripping the water to clean for your corals?
Click to expand...

BRS address this exact issue and they concluded that it will not. Chaeto is a great addition to normal filtration methods not a replacement. So no I am not. I have a 40 breeder fuge and filled with chaeto, a great big bright light that draws ~135 watts. The growth seems to be self adjusting as NO3 as PO4 drops to low levels the growth seems too also so you'll not hit actual zero.
 

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