Refugium lighting question.

[sailfin08]

Hi I am pretty new to using a refugium, my brother just sent me a 150 watt 10k hqi fixture. Can I use this light to grow chato?

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Sure, you can use that. Though that might go better over your DT. If you wanna grow chaeto though, that would provide more than enough light.

[Playa-1]

You can use it but it would be overkill for the fuge. I would suggest looking at other options. I use this bulb with a $5 clip on fixture from the hardware store.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=2737

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Agreed, while you can use it, if your DT could use a lighting upgrade you should use it for that instead of the fuge. For fuges/sumps, just go to HD or wherever and pick up a cheap floodlight. I'm actually going to be using some PC bulbs my friend gave me when they ordered the wrong bulbs at BR where he works. Playa-1 is spot-on though.

[sailfin08]

thanks much guys! Do you know of a good bulb from home depot that would be a good one I can just go in and get?

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Most any of their floodlight bulbs should be fine, the one Playa posted earlier is a good basis to go off. If you want something a bit fancier though, you could always pick up a couple CFs there, any of the 100w ones are great. I use those above my fuge and my chaeto grows like its on roids.

[discus510]

rather than home depot i would go to walmart and get the GE 20 watts (75)
6500k bulbs its 2 bulbs for 10 bucks but go to home depot to get the single socket lamp or u can get at walmart too

[ludnix]

Most any of their floodlight bulbs should be fine, the one Playa posted earlier is a good basis to go off. If you want something a bit fancier though, you could always pick up a couple CFs there, any of the 100w ones are great. I use those above my fuge and my chaeto grows like its on roids.

The one playa posted is a CF, it's just encased in a glass reflector. I use two of the 19w versions of that 5100k bulb and it works fantastic. I didn't get very good growth with the 6500k or any other range.

[thanhjenn]

yeah no need for the hqi. i have a florescent light and my chaeto grows well. have to trim every month

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

@ludnix
-my bad, I missed that. In any case, most of those "cheap" bulbs work great for growing macros in a fuge, at least IME. The lower spectrum that those bulbs usually put out is great for photosynthesis.