Is this a good light for a fuge?

[lougotzz]

As the title says, is this good enough for a fuge?

http://www.marineandreef.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=RES53120

Thanks.

[lougotzz]

Pic didnt work, heres the link

http://www.marineandreef.com/Mini_Aqualight_9_inch_Coralife_p/res53120.htm

Thanks again.

[Peter Eichler]

It's ok... You'd be better off with one of the 28w quad bulbs or just one of the 23w daylight power twist bulbs from the hardware store.

[lougotzz]

Better?

http://www.marineandreef.com/Aqualight_Compact_Fluorescent_1X28W_20_Coralife_p/res53000.htm

[luv951]

yes, better. But you are going to spend a lot more than if you just go buy a flood light enclosure and 23W power twist bulb at HD. I know, its like $15 vs $45, so not huge deal, but you can get the light tomorrow, set it up and be done with it....no shipping hassles, possible returns, etc.

[lougotzz]

The only reason Im for the coralife light is cause its gonna light up the whole stand so I can see what im doing, a flood lights only gonna concentrate on the right side.

Thanks.

[lougotzz]

Also, what would be some good algaes for a fuge other than chaeto and sea lettuce?

[Peter Eichler]

The only reason Im for the coralife light is cause its gonna light up the whole stand so I can see what im doing, a flood lights only gonna concentrate on the right side.

Thanks.

I don't use the floodlights, I use the regular power twist bulbs. If you really want a fixture of some type, the 24" 2 bulb T5 from Current would be a good choice.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CU-USA01124&Category_Code=Current-T5

[Moebuis]

What are the dimensions of your fuge area? That may dictate what the best lighting would be. If you were to put a 28w/20" fixture over a fuge area that's only 10" long, you are only utilizing about half of it's output (14w). I have one of the lights in your first link and I don't think it puts out much light, but you could replace one of the actinic bulbs with a 10k. A simple reflector with a screw-in daylight bulb will be the cheapest to startup and maintain since PC bulbs need to be replaced so often.

As far as what macro to put in there, IMO cheato is the way to go.

[lougotzz]

Just chaeto? Should I add other plants with teh chaeto? Or will the chaeot do the job on its own?

Well the actual sump is 30 inches long and 12 inches wide.

What kind of bulb did you have in mind?

[peteyp923]

I think any cf bulb with the spectrum of 51k to 67k are good for macro growth... I use a cf bulb with 65k spectrum and my macro are growing great.

[Snakebyt]

get yourself one of these and call it a day. 6500K bulb will do well with the cheato
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xje/R-100130020/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

[luv951]

The only reason Im for the coralife light is cause its gonna light up the whole stand so I can see what im doing, a flood lights only gonna concentrate on the right side.

Thanks.

I liked this idea and tried it myself at first. Problem was that the overall light coverage caused algae to grow all over the sump - even inside the skimmer body. Was way more pain than it was worth. I ended up getting a second cheapo light that I just turned on to light up the whole are under my stand. I left that one off normally though.

[Moebuis]

Just chaeto? Should I add other plants with teh chaeto? Or will the chaeot do the job on its own?

Well the actual sump is 30 inches long and 12 inches wide.

What kind of bulb did you have in mind?

Yep, just cheato. Give it the right light and it will block out the light from anything else. The good thing about it is that it grows so fast. You'll have to harvest it thus removing nutrients that it has taken up. I put a softball size of cheato in a 55g tank and withing 2 months if filled the top half of the tank under t5 lighting.

Your sump may be 30", but you'll only need to light the fuge area. You don't want to light anything else. I'm guessing you're using a 20g long with a skimmer section and a return area as well?

[lougotzz]

Return pump, fuge, skimmer. Thats the sump in 3 sections. Its a custom made sump from AA, I believe it is larger than a 20 long. 30x12x16 I think.

[lougotzz]

I liked this idea and tried it myself at first. Problem was that the overall light coverage caused algae to grow all over the sump - even inside the skimmer body. Was way more pain than it was worth. I ended up getting a second cheapo light that I just turned on to light up the whole are under my stand. I left that one off normally though.

I might do the same thing. I dont think I want algae all over the sump.

Thanks.