LED Refugium Light Test

DopeCantWin · 02/08/2012, 10:28 PM

I'm looking to do a test if I can lower my Nitrates through switching my Refugium lights from CFL to LED. Documenting my experience along the way.

I'm currently using 2 x 23 Watt CFL

I'll be switching to 2 x Cool White Par 38 Bulbs 6500K.

I know some people would say go with the 3 watts, but I'd like to try the 1 watt based on the good reviews of the JBJ Nana Refugium light. At the same time, I'm open to any other thoughts.

My current Nitrates are 5-10 in a 90 gallon tank. The refugium section of my sump I'll estimate at 10 gallons is completely filled with Chaeto. I have a heavy bio-load. I won't be doing water changes and won't dose Iron.

Any thoughts or interest in tagging along?

krshlln300 · 02/08/2012, 10:53 PM

I think that you should at least run a skimmer as you would need around a 30 gallon refugium on the 90 gallon to keep up with a heavy bioload. I do not believe that you will see any change in nitrate absorption from the chaeto by just switching to led's. I would actually suggest that you try a 10 gallon show refugium in addition to your chaeto with some ornamental macros that would suck up a variety of waste products in addition to the nitrates.

DopeCantWin · 02/08/2012, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krshlln300

I think that you should at least run a skimmer as you would need around a 30 gallon refugium on the 90 gallon to keep up with a heavy bioload. I do not believe that you will see any change in nitrate absorption from the chaeto by just switching to led's. I would actually suggest that you try a 10 gallon show refugium in addition to your chaeto with some ornamental macros that would suck up a variety of waste products in addition to the nitrates.

The full sump is 30 gallons and has an Octopus 2000XP Skimmer. But I'm open to putting other types of Macros in there. What would you recommend?

jamesdean3 · 02/09/2012, 10:47 AM

ya lights shouldn't effect it at all. the only thing would be possible increased growth in the macro which would lead to higher absorption rates. but that really the same as letting the macro grow bigger with CFL's. If your doing it , it'll be purely for asthethic purposes.

DopeCantWin · 02/09/2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesdean3

ya lights shouldn't effect it at all. the only thing would be possible increased growth in the macro which would lead to higher absorption rates. but that really the same as letting the macro grow bigger with CFL's. If your doing it , it'll be purely for asthethic purposes.

Well right now it is coming out of the water, I'll be trimming it back shortly. I don't have more space to work with, so I need to increase growth and cutting back rates.

Zoomadness · 02/09/2012, 11:44 AM

I am using a 14,000K LED right now that is working well, bought it off EBAY really cheap, so far so good. I am curious about the par 38 bulbs that will go into a normal socket, thought about trying those in the future!

DopeCantWin · 02/09/2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoomadness

I am using a 14,000K LED right now that is working well, bought it off EBAY really cheap, so far so good. I am curious about the par 38 bulbs that will go into a normal socket, thought about trying those in the future!

How many watts are the LEDs?

Zoomadness · 03/06/2012, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DopeCantWin

How many watts are the LEDs?

2 watts, I also bought a dimmable PAR 38 bulb off of Ebay that has 6 white and 6 royal blue for my 55 gallon and I have seen an increase in growth, this one is 12 watts.

DopeCantWin · 03/06/2012, 10:29 AM

The test was somewhat successful. The growth had exploded. I turned off my skimmer and the Nitrates got down to 2.5. I had to start dosing Iron. But I'd like to lower them even more, so I've built a small Algae scrubber.

fio1022 · 05/03/2012, 08:07 AM

I'm thinking of trying out one or two of these over my refugium.
Any thoughts before I buy??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ht_3815wt_1263

DopeCantWin · 05/03/2012, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fio1022

I'm thinking of trying out one or two of these over my refugium.
Any thoughts before I buy??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ht_3815wt_1263

Might be worth a shot. If the base gets too hot, you could throw a fan on it. That's how the LEDs wear out fast, at least from what I understand.

solitude127 · 05/03/2012, 09:04 AM

I went from 16w CFL bulb to a DIY 12 - 3w LEDs driven to 1.5w each and my chaeto has to be trimmed every 2 weeks vs every 2 months with my old CFL bulb. As far as if my nitrates went down, I don't know because I haven't tested nitrates in over a year. I'm bad with testing water parameters.

02/08/2012, 10:28 PM	#1
DopeCantWin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Buffalo Grove Posts: 2,193	LED Refugium Light Test I'm looking to do a test if I can lower my Nitrates through switching my Refugium lights from CFL to LED. Documenting my experience along the way. I'm currently using 2 x 23 Watt CFL I'll be switching to 2 x Cool White Par 38 Bulbs 6500K. I know some people would say go with the 3 watts, but I'd like to try the 1 watt based on the good reviews of the JBJ Nana Refugium light. At the same time, I'm open to any other thoughts. My current Nitrates are 5-10 in a 90 gallon tank. The refugium section of my sump I'll estimate at 10 gallons is completely filled with Chaeto. I have a heavy bio-load. I won't be doing water changes and won't dose Iron. Any thoughts or interest in tagging along?

05/03/2012, 08:07 AM	#10
fio1022 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,557	I'm thinking of trying out one or two of these over my refugium. Any thoughts before I buy?? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ht_3815wt_1263 __________________ its all about time,space,and money Current Tank Info: 240g,64g acrylic sump/fuge.

05/03/2012, 09:04 AM	#12
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	I went from 16w CFL bulb to a DIY 12 - 3w LEDs driven to 1.5w each and my chaeto has to be trimmed every 2 weeks vs every 2 months with my old CFL bulb. As far as if my nitrates went down, I don't know because I haven't tested nitrates in over a year. I'm bad with testing water parameters. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

02/08/2012, 10:53 PM	#2
krshlln300 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Robinson twp, PA Posts: 641	I think that you should at least run a skimmer as you would need around a 30 gallon refugium on the 90 gallon to keep up with a heavy bioload. I do not believe that you will see any change in nitrate absorption from the chaeto by just switching to led's. I would actually suggest that you try a 10 gallon show refugium in addition to your chaeto with some ornamental macros that would suck up a variety of waste products in addition to the nitrates.

02/09/2012, 10:47 AM	#4
jamesdean3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 128	ya lights shouldn't effect it at all. the only thing would be possible increased growth in the macro which would lead to higher absorption rates. but that really the same as letting the macro grow bigger with CFL's. If your doing it , it'll be purely for asthethic purposes.

02/09/2012, 11:44 AM	#6
Zoomadness Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saint Charles Mo. Posts: 55	I am using a 14,000K LED right now that is working well, bought it off EBAY really cheap, so far so good. I am curious about the par 38 bulbs that will go into a normal socket, thought about trying those in the future!

03/06/2012, 10:29 AM	#9
DopeCantWin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Buffalo Grove Posts: 2,193	The test was somewhat successful. The growth had exploded. I turned off my skimmer and the Nitrates got down to 2.5. I had to start dosing Iron. But I'd like to lower them even more, so I've built a small Algae scrubber.