Refugium Light

[Thomalop]

What is the cheapest effective light to be used in a refugium?

Also where can you purchase the light at?

[Legacy2005]

depends on the size/depth of the refugium? a cheap 24/36" PC light would work. or hit one of the hardware stores and find a fixture there and mount it in the stand.

[Thomalop]

It is a 30 gallon sump tank.

Does the refugium need special light.

[papagimp]

Heres the lighting I got from lowes and/or Home depot

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/123821clamp_light.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/123821refugium__bulb.jpg

A refugium doesn't need a special light at all, but macro algae will need proper color spectrum to thrive. Something in the 5500-6800k range preferably. This rating will be either on the bulb packaging, on the base of the bulb, or not at all listed. Don't use a bulb that you don't know the color temp rating since it's a waste of money if ya ask me. I recently found similar sprial bulbs like these at the Dollar General for 3 for $5 and they run a 5500k spectrum i believe. Maybe be higher but it's within range and works great for my cheato, caulepra, and red bubble algae stuff.

[Brandon M]

http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/5100k_bulb.jpg

More info:

http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

[Capt_Cully]

papagimp and brandon are dead on. You can do the whole shabang for about 15 bucks. works fine.

here's mine. you can see the cruddy 39w flourescent light at the top.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/markjcolaneri/IMG_3398.jpg