Question about Fuge Light

sage_commander · 10/31/2008, 09:11 AM

I recently put a 2.5 gallon fuge in the stand under my tank. At first all I had in there was a few pounds of LR pieces. Once it had been running awhile I added some red macro algae that was growing in the main tank. Some of it started to turn green, making me think it needed light. So I put a 4W flouro about one foot above it.

The light is currently running 24/7. Is that OK? I'd rather not add yet another timer to my setup, but I will if I need to. Thanks!

WaterKeeper · 10/31/2008, 09:34 AM

I'd be inclined to double that wattage. Especially with the light a foot above the fuge. I also don't lke running lights 24/7. Algae need some dark time to eliminate excess carbon dioxide and covert sugars into protein and other tissue. A cheap plug-in timer would be fine and use a photo period of around 16 hours.

JMO

spw4949 · 10/31/2008, 09:35 AM

Some people think (& I agree) that a period of darkness is beneficial. I run my fuge light opposite my main tank,my fuge light is on for 16hrs,off for 8. Hope this helps.

sps1-2-b · 10/31/2008, 10:01 AM

If you find that you need more watts, any hardware store will carry the cheap clamp on flood light set up. I paid $10 for the fixture and bulb (energy efficient one). I use the 27watts=100watts. You could prolly get away with less watts. I run mine 12 hrs on 12 hrs off.

redfishsc · 10/31/2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sps1-2-b
If you find that you need more watts, any hardware store will carry the cheap clamp on flood light set up. I paid $10 for the fixture and bulb (energy efficient one). I use the 27watts=100watts. You could prolly get away with less watts. I run mine 12 hrs on 12 hrs off.

+1

I use a 26W screw-base CF light, a "Daylight" (6500K) but honestly even a cool-white will work fine.

While a 13W would work fine, a 23-27W light (depending on the manufacturer) will REALLY do great, so long as you aren't worried about heat.

sage_commander · 10/31/2008, 02:05 PM

Thanks for the replies.

I hadn't thought about the clamp on light. I have one, but I didn't really want any exposed electrical stuff right above the salt water (seems like a good environment for corrosion from the salt air)

I could put a bigger light under there, I guess. I'll have to do some looking. I'm not really worried about heat; the stand is open in the back and there's lots of air flow.

Thanks again.

WaterKeeper · 10/31/2008, 03:03 PM

We're not talking megawatt lighting here, Heat is not a problem.

tmz · 10/31/2008, 07:21 PM

I agree a bit more light and I also prefer a period of darkness as in nature.. I run my refugium lights for 15 hours on an almost opposite photo period from the display.

Aquarist007 · 10/31/2008, 07:23 PM

Here is a thread loaded with information on fuges--lighting ect ect

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1410456

10/31/2008, 09:11 AM	#1
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	Question about Fuge Light I recently put a 2.5 gallon fuge in the stand under my tank. At first all I had in there was a few pounds of LR pieces. Once it had been running awhile I added some red macro algae that was growing in the main tank. Some of it started to turn green, making me think it needed light. So I put a 4W flouro about one foot above it. The light is currently running 24/7. Is that OK? I'd rather not add yet another timer to my setup, but I will if I need to. Thanks!

10/31/2008, 09:34 AM	#2
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I'd be inclined to double that wattage. Especially with the light a foot above the fuge. I also don't lke running lights 24/7. Algae need some dark time to eliminate excess carbon dioxide and covert sugars into protein and other tissue. A cheap plug-in timer would be fine and use a photo period of around 16 hours. JMO __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/31/2008, 09:35 AM	#3
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Some people think (& I agree) that a period of darkness is beneficial. I run my fuge light opposite my main tank,my fuge light is on for 16hrs,off for 8. Hope this helps. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

10/31/2008, 03:03 PM	#7
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	We're not talking megawatt lighting here, Heat is not a problem. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/31/2008, 07:21 PM	#8
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I agree a bit more light and I also prefer a period of darkness as in nature.. I run my refugium lights for 15 hours on an almost opposite photo period from the display. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

10/31/2008, 10:01 AM	#4
sps1-2-b Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 1,248	If you find that you need more watts, any hardware store will carry the cheap clamp on flood light set up. I paid $10 for the fixture and bulb (energy efficient one). I use the 27watts=100watts. You could prolly get away with less watts. I run mine 12 hrs on 12 hrs off.

10/31/2008, 02:05 PM	#6
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	Thanks for the replies. I hadn't thought about the clamp on light. I have one, but I didn't really want any exposed electrical stuff right above the salt water (seems like a good environment for corrosion from the salt air) I could put a bigger light under there, I guess. I'll have to do some looking. I'm not really worried about heat; the stand is open in the back and there's lots of air flow. Thanks again.

10/31/2008, 07:23 PM	#9
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	Here is a thread loaded with information on fuges--lighting ect ect http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1410456 __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock