I plan on having a refugium on the back of my 60 (24 x 24 x 24)gallon tank. The refugium measures 6" wide x 15" along the back of the tank edge and 18" deep (7 gallons). I wanted to put some types of macro algae qith live sand and a few pieces of live rock. I was thinking about PCs for lighting. Hamilton Tech makes a mini system that measures 6" x 15" long and is 56 watts. I would have this light on opposite the main tank. I wanted to know what members opinions were on: 1. If this is enough wattage for macro algae to thrive, 2. Would MH be more appropriate, 3. Is this just a hair brained idea.
Thanks for any input.

That should be plenty of light. In fact, I've inquired about the same thing lately and most people seem to be just using a 60 or 75 watt incandescant light with a GE grow light from Walmart or wherever.

FOX

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Do you think it should shine down, therefore trying to reach the 18"bottom or should I shine it through the side? Maybe it just doesn't matter.
Thanks

i'm one of those that's been using a 75W incandescent flood light in my refugium (15 gallon). it's only 4 months, but the caulerpa seems to like the light a lot and is growing like mad.
my girlfriend is using a 60 grow lamp (also incandescent) on her 5.5g refugium. it's been 8 moths and all is doing well.
i'm sure a pc or mh will work very well too. but, IMHO, it's not worth the money since there will not be any corals in the refugium.



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psychocoralchopper

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DGB;
I have a 36"L * 18"W * 12"D refugium that I light with 2 * 20W NO florescent. I harvest at least 2 gallons of algae out of it per
month.

I think A 175 MH will be like swatting a fly with a cannon. :) The 56 watt system sounds nice, but it sounds like overkill.

I am thinking a 15W NO with a growlux tube would be good and cost effective. Or maybe a 27W PC.

Just random thoughts;

DougL



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DGB,
I have a 10 galllon detached refugium. I used 4 X 9watt pc fixtures in it. My caulerpa grows great in it. I also use this tank for coral cutting grow-out. The 9watt fixtures are really cheap and 5500k daylight bulbs can be had at any Home Depot fo $4.00 a piece. Two of the bulbs are actintic.
The light penitrates very well to the bottom of the tank and the bulbs don't create much heat. Your refugium is a little deeper than my tank. Their compact profile also makes them easy to mount.
Just my .02
Nemo

Shining through the side may work but you would be better off shining the light from the top down. You'll get better coverage of the whole tank that way.

FOX

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