18W enough for refugium with chaeto?

unmc2001 · 03/19/2006, 08:15 PM

I have a sump with a refugium (20 gallon high 24x12x16). The refugium section is 10"x 12" and the water level is about 7" from top of sump. I just added a ball of chaeto 3 days ago and I have a 12" current satellite fixture with 18W PC . I was told that this is not enough light but I wanted to confirm this. Is this going to be enogh lighting for the chaeto to thrive? If not any recommendations on a small refugium light?

cmulawka · 03/19/2006, 08:21 PM

There was a thread floating around about a fuge bulb from Home Depot I got It and it grew cheato like crazy Do a search I was a energy saving bulb

Rekonn · 03/20/2006, 02:59 AM

Here's a great page on refugium lighting from melevsreef.
LINK

unmc2001 · 03/20/2006, 08:01 AM

thanks that was very helpful!

cbashaw · 03/20/2006, 08:25 AM

I used a 13w over a similar size area and the Cheato did survive but grew very slowly. when I upgraded to a 4X13W it made a big difference in growth.

Bret61081 · 03/21/2006, 02:51 PM

I am wondering...I got one of the spiral bulbs from home depot...the natural light bulbs and when I called the # on the back they said it was 6500kwhich is better then the 5100K used test. Do you think this bulb will be ok? I have a 2x13wPC fixture I can use for my fuge if I need to just have to figure out how to mount it on the 10G tank! should I use this insted with 2x 13x 6500k PCs insted of the 19w spiral bulb

Malster1 · 03/21/2006, 03:35 PM

I'm using the power saving flood light, I bought it at homedepot, but they carry it at OSH and Lowes as well. It's rated at 19w, but with the output of 75watt's. I installed it over my refuge, 25G tank and the stuff's growing great. I leave mine on 24/7. At only 19w draw it's less than a pump running all of the time.

unmc2001 · 03/21/2006, 04:28 PM

do you leave it on 24/7 with chaeto or some other macro?

Malster1 · 03/21/2006, 06:06 PM

with chaeto only.

03/19/2006, 08:15 PM	#1
unmc2001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 301	18W enough for refugium with chaeto? I have a sump with a refugium (20 gallon high 24x12x16). The refugium section is 10"x 12" and the water level is about 7" from top of sump. I just added a ball of chaeto 3 days ago and I have a 12" current satellite fixture with 18W PC . I was told that this is not enough light but I wanted to confirm this. Is this going to be enogh lighting for the chaeto to thrive? If not any recommendations on a small refugium light?

03/19/2006, 08:21 PM	#2
cmulawka Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 770	There was a thread floating around about a fuge bulb from Home Depot I got It and it grew cheato like crazy Do a search I was a energy saving bulb

03/20/2006, 02:59 AM	#3
Rekonn Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 769	Here's a great page on refugium lighting from melevsreef. LINK

03/20/2006, 08:01 AM	#4
unmc2001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 301	thanks that was very helpful!

03/20/2006, 08:25 AM	#5
cbashaw Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Urbana, MD Posts: 330	I used a 13w over a similar size area and the Cheato did survive but grew very slowly. when I upgraded to a 4X13W it made a big difference in growth.

03/21/2006, 02:51 PM	#6
Bret61081 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,078	I am wondering...I got one of the spiral bulbs from home depot...the natural light bulbs and when I called the # on the back they said it was 6500kwhich is better then the 5100K used test. Do you think this bulb will be ok? I have a 2x13wPC fixture I can use for my fuge if I need to just have to figure out how to mount it on the 10G tank! should I use this insted with 2x 13x 6500k PCs insted of the 19w spiral bulb

03/21/2006, 03:35 PM	#7
Malster1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay, Pacifica CA Posts: 867	I'm using the power saving flood light, I bought it at homedepot, but they carry it at OSH and Lowes as well. It's rated at 19w, but with the output of 75watt's. I installed it over my refuge, 25G tank and the stuff's growing great. I leave mine on 24/7. At only 19w draw it's less than a pump running all of the time.

03/21/2006, 04:28 PM	#8
unmc2001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 301	do you leave it on 24/7 with chaeto or some other macro?

03/21/2006, 06:06 PM	#9
Malster1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay, Pacifica CA Posts: 867	with chaeto only.