Using plant grow lights for refugium?

[duberii]

My mother uses these lights for her plants, and they're dirt cheap when compared to advertized refugium lights. The spectrum doesn't look too bad so I assume the issue would be intensity/PAR. Does anybody have any experience using these for a refugium and how did it work out?

 

[duberii]

Here are the PAR readings they give as well, but I assume they're not the most accurate. This seems like a pretty good alternative on paper- I wonder why more people don't use them?

 

[miyags]

Look up 20 or 30 watt led flood lights on Ebay,even cheaper.and it's what people are using for their DIY algae scrubbers.

 

[duberii]

Look up 20 or 30 watt led flood lights on Ebay,even cheaper.and it's what people are using for their DIY algae scrubbers.

At this price, I'm willing to spend more if the spectrum is better/ it provides greater par. I'll definitely look more into it though.

 

[jda]

They grow lights will work just fine. Light is the least important part of growing macro/chaeto... if they tank is ready and able to grow it, then even a screw-in CFL in a clamp-on style reflector from Home Depot will grow it out of the tank.