View Full Version : macro algae and lighting?
GratefulReef
03/25/2013, 10:40 PM
I just installed my newly built sump and was thinking of adding some macro algae to aid in filtration and for a snack for my livestock from time to time. I would like to use a light fixture I already have which is a 12 inch t8 fixture currently it has an actinic lamp in it, would this be capable of growing any macro algaes, or would it need a new bulb or is this fixture just not powerful enough?
silleb
03/25/2013, 10:44 PM
I'm not sure since its actinic, but I can say I've used a clamp on light from Walmart with and a 70w incandescent bulb and grew chaeto just fine.
uny2bld
03/26/2013, 04:39 AM
I just installed my newly built sump and was thinking of adding some macro algae to aid in filtration and for a snack for my livestock from time to time. I would like to use a light fixture I already have which is a 12 inch t8 fixture currently it has an actinic lamp in it, would this be capable of growing any macro algaes, or would it need a new bulb or is this fixture just not powerful enough?
I'm trying to remember... there is a certain k that macro does best at and I want to say it's 7,000 k but I'm not positive. I will try to look it up when I get home...
ohioreef
03/26/2013, 04:52 AM
Melev did a test and I believe he found 5100K worked best. If you go to his website, melevsreef.com, he has it all spelled out there.
AWDcameoLSX
03/26/2013, 05:00 AM
The 5100k bulb from home depot works great. I was dumb and switched to a 7500k I found, it killed my cheato, releasing all the absorbed phosphates into my tank. The cheapo setup works great don't second guess it.
GratefulReef
03/26/2013, 07:04 AM
Awesome! I will go get myself a 5100k bulb today, and try to find some chaeto as well. I appreciate the responses thanks so much.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.