coralife refugium light vs 6500k cfl for chaeto

[Carey1465]

I got the mini coralife refugium in the mail today and it has a 10k bulb and a actinic bulb. The only problem is I have a 6500k cfl bulb now and its actually brighter than the coralife. Does the actinic bulb help out with the growth of the chaeto? Or should I return the coralife?

[allsps40]

Shop light and CFL bulb all the way. I had the 18W Coralife light over my fuge with 2 10K bulbs and the one CFL grows the chaeto much faster.

[WLDOR]

Return the Coralife mini. If your experience is anything like mine, the actinic will quit within the week, and for some reason will then bring down the 10k bulb with it.

It's junk.

Buy a Phillips PAR38 bulb from HD for around the same coin, save your self a lot of hassle and watch your chaeto go nuts!

[Carey1465]

I've been running my 6500k cfl for a few months now and the chaeto's slowly dying off. It's green but it slowly falls apart. I have 15ppm for nitrates and low phosphates. ???? Maybe I need to add another 6500k bulb? I'm almost ready to give up with this chaeto.


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[skidoctor]

I had no growth with my macro until I switched to cfl's. I run 2 5500k and 1 2700k over a 29g. I had higher phosphates, added cheato, lettuce and red caulpera. The cheato took of- actually harvested some. Phosphates are mow reading 0 (I realize this is probably a false reading), the lettuce and reds are gowing like crazy, but the cheato seems to have slowed down and seems wilted over the past month. I figure that there is natural competition and the lettuce and reds are just winning now. Nitrates are stable at 5, which is the lowest I've ever tested.

[Carey1465]

Skidoctor, so you have 3 lights over the refugium?


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[skidoctor]

I do. I've often questioned if that's too much. Like, way too much. I have no algea in my DT, and not very much in my sump/ fuge. I have a cuc (couple of snails, hermits, clams and 1 choco chip star in there along with 2 damsels.
Parameters have never been more stable, and I haven't see any ill effects.
I'd love some feedback or opinions.