PDA

View Full Version : Fuge light


TheCoralNabber
07/21/2009, 11:21 PM
I found this today and thought it might not be too bad since it is an exterior fixture. I would just have to grind down the spike and mod it a bit. It works well with a florescent bulb and the rubber seal is a nice feature. I might try to find a spotlight so I don't have to use a reflector. Thoughts or other ideas for cheap DIY fuge lighting ideas. The fuge is going to be about 5 gallons of my 20L sump.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1291803&cp=2568454.2632231.2632297.2632305&lmdn=Brand&cp=2568454.2632231.2632297&searchId=39927991953

chi3f
07/21/2009, 11:27 PM
i was wondering y do u run fuge lights opposite tank lights?

chi3f
07/21/2009, 11:28 PM
don't mean to steal thread just curious

TheCoralNabber
07/22/2009, 12:31 AM
Well for one thing that I can think of/remember is so you aren't heating the system by putting light in the tank and fuge at the same time. There is a nother reason but I can't remember because I'm just getting back into the hobby and have forgotten...

james3370
07/22/2009, 12:38 AM
the reason is when the lights go out, the ph swings from something (having a brain fart at the moment & can't remember what LOL)....so doing the reverse lighting helps to stabalize the ph

TheCoralNabber
07/22/2009, 12:49 AM
I also need to know what is a good Kelvin rating for a bulb for use over the fuge?

james3370
07/22/2009, 01:32 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15394937#post15394937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheCoralNabber
I also need to know what is a good Kelvin rating for a bulb for use over the fuge?

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

TheCoralNabber
07/22/2009, 02:11 AM
Melev to the rescue...thoughts on the spot light?

james3370
07/22/2009, 01:05 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15395042#post15395042 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheCoralNabber
Melev to the rescue...thoughts on the spot light?

i think the cheap clip-on shop light in his post is cheaper & has been used by alot of people w/ success

der_wille_zur_macht
07/22/2009, 01:45 PM
Using that fixture with a bulb that had a reflector built in would be fine, or you could use the standard clip-lamp with the large spun reflector.

pH swings from day to night because of the gas content of the water. During the day, all the photosynthetic life in your tank is giving off oxygen and using carbon dioxide, so CO2 content in the water is at it's lowest. When the lights go out, this life all starts using oxygen and giving off CO2, so CO2 climbs, which tends to create carbonic acid, lowering the pH.

If you run your refugium on a reverse photoperiod, the two colonies of photosynthetic life (in your display and in your refugium) are using/creating CO2 out of phase, and hence the effect cancels out.

james3370
07/22/2009, 01:50 PM
^^^ that's what my brain fart couldn't come up with LOL

insane
07/22/2009, 01:50 PM
You can buy light fixtures exactly like that one but they come with both the spike like that one AND comes with a flat base with screw holes so it can be mounted.
Likem thisn ones.
http://www.illinimastini.com/reef/PVC_files/floodlight.jpg

Itsa intermachangable. I finded it heres.

http://electrical.hardwarestore.com/13-42-outdoor-flood-lighting/floodlight-holder-232199.aspx

Simply,

Gotta love a spell checker!

uncleof6
07/22/2009, 02:01 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15394733#post15394733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chi3f
i was wondering y do u run fuge lights opposite tank lights?


When the lights are out, photosynthesis does not occur, therefore, CO2 builds up in the system water, lowering the pH. The thought is that by having a "fuge" i.e. algae filter, running on a reverse photo period, will keep the CO2 level down, therefore, not lowering the pH. However, in a properly designed and run system, with sufficient flow and gas exchange, and the buffering system (calcium, bicarbonate, and magnesium levels are correct and balanced, this fluctuation is insignificant, if present at all.

Regards,

Jim

EDIT: Add this to what der-wille said, even though he may disagree:)

der_wille_zur_macht
07/22/2009, 02:15 PM
Jim, 100% agreement, we're saying the same thing. Good point about correct buffering reducing the pH swing.

TheCoralNabber
07/22/2009, 02:16 PM
I know that a lot of people use the clip on fixtures, but I'm just wondering how they hold up to the long term with the humidity. This one is made for exterior use, just thinking that it might work pretty well and hold up too!

Reeferon
07/23/2009, 02:21 PM
I used this:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=203198-1373-FL-200PDQ&lpage=none

I took the clamp off....
I just screwed a hook screw directly on top of the fuge. I used the power chord to tie a single (loose) knot around the hook. Then closed the hook with a pair of pliers.

use any 6500k (daylight) bulb.

this set up worked like a charm for me.

1DeR9_3Hy
07/23/2009, 04:31 PM
[Begin hijack]

I am planning the fuge for my next tank, and im going to be using a T5 HO retrofit with 2 bulbs and some FW/planted tank lights.

Anyone know of a nice bulb in that range? Ive been thinking i will use the Geisman Aqua flora becuase its peaks are in the red/yellow/blue range. Any input would be nice :)

insane
07/24/2009, 12:40 AM
[subsidiary with the hijack]

I am thinking of designing and building a super king kamaya maya biggie sump/fuge/DSB/bathtub/swimming pool and I will be using a 250w 6.5k SE MH on the fuge Over kill maybe/probably but the price was right on the fixture and ballast (free) so I will be butchering it for my DIY.

I would have to be,
Insane

p.s. Don't tell uncle, but I am thinking of running some things by him to see what he thinks.

I ascertain he possesses an unequivocally transcendent frontal lobe.

TheCoralNabber
07/24/2009, 06:30 AM
Overkill maybe but it'll rock you macro production and you can run old bulbs on it. I used to have my 55 fuge right behind my tank and picked up light from the two MH lights on the tank. I was pulling out about a gallon of chato a week. What size are you thinly for this mythical beast?

1DeR9_3Hy
07/24/2009, 11:11 AM
A lfs near me has an employee who lives at home and his parents pay all the electrical bill. He runs a 400 watt MH on his 200 gallon fuge for his 180....he harvests a 5 gallon bucket of chaeto once a month.

amore169
07/24/2009, 01:42 PM
I would also use the ones that Marc recommends in his website.

insane
07/24/2009, 02:14 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15407662#post15407662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheCoralNabber
Overkill maybe but it'll rock you macro production and you can run old bulbs on it. I used to have my 55 fuge right behind my tank and picked up light from the two MH lights on the tank. I was pulling out about a gallon of chato a week. What size are you thinly for this mythical beast?

I won't have any used 250w 6.5k SE MH cuz my display will be using two 400w 20k SE MH.

I emailed ya a link nabber

Insane was here

Reefer2727
07/25/2009, 09:48 AM
Tagging along.

TheCoralNabber
07/25/2009, 10:06 AM
I decided to go with the one from Ace. The clip on lights were more expensive and I liked that the fixture is an exterior fixture. I'll have to work on it a little bit, but I'm not worried about it. I also picked up a 15W GE floodlight that gives off 720 lumens. I figured I'd give it a shot. I'll let you know how it works out for me. I calculated out the fuge volume at 3.8 gallons.

pleasants9
07/25/2009, 11:44 AM
has anyone tried a fuge with LED's??? what worked best in that situation?

james3370
07/25/2009, 11:50 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15414640#post15414640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pleasants9
has anyone tried a fuge with LED's??? what worked best in that situation?

i plan on putting a few leftover white ones on my nano build

i bought one of these to use on my 29 build but sold it all before getting it running....but the concept looked good. it is designed to grow plants (which cheato is)......

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220417864342