| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
jwoo 
Presidency
Joined: April 29 2009
Location: Alpine
Status: Offline
Points: 3603
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Refuge Light Died!
Posted: December 26 2009 at 11:05pm |
|
So my refuge light died last night. I have an old fresh water light above it for the time being (I doubt it will grow anything but hopefully it can keep the chaeto alive in the meantime).
So I was wondering what fixtures and bulbs are people using? Since I have to get a new one might as well see what people are into.
|
|
None at the moment
Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront
|
 |
grateful1
Guest
Joined: February 20 2009
Location: Univ. of Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 121
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December 26 2009 at 11:25pm |
|
I picked up a $5 fixture from Home Depot--just an aluminum clip-on pendant. I put in one of those energy efficient spiral bulbs in a Daylight color spectrum (supposed to be around five or six thousand Kelvin). It's been working fine so far--of course, it hasn't even been a week.
|
|
37g reef.
Frag tank in progress.
(801) 403-4006.
|
|
Jeffs_little_ocean
Guest
Joined: October 04 2009
Location: Kaysville
Status: Offline
Points: 869
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December 26 2009 at 11:40pm |
7 dollar Walmart "lights of america" florescent shop light. I dont know the Kelvin or even how many watts, but it grows chaeto like mad. Ive just been throwing it away it grows so fast.
|
|
Life is good....right?
|
|
jwoo
Presidency
Joined: April 29 2009
Location: Alpine
Status: Offline
Points: 3603
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December 27 2009 at 12:16am |
|
Jeff,
How long is that light? What watts? I need something under 16 inches long. Also where in walmart did you find it? I looked there for some lights and only found some grow lights that I really wasn't satisfied with.
|
|
None at the moment
Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront
|
|
Shane H
Presidency
Joined: March 09 2003
Location: Brigham City
Status: Offline
Points: 7921
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December 27 2009 at 12:37am |
|
You can also find the Lights of America power compact shop lights at Home Depot.
|
|
MadReefer
Guest
Joined: December 13 2007
Location: Kearns
Status: Offline
Points: 1965
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December 27 2009 at 3:19am |
 grateful1 wrote:
I picked up a $5 fixture from Home Depot--just an aluminum clip-on pendant. I put in one of those energy efficient spiral bulbs in a Daylight color spectrum (supposed to be around five or six thousand Kelvin). It's been working fine so far--of course, it hasn't even been a week. |
This is what I've done for two years and it is working great. I found a 65 watt spiral bulb at walmart. I chose the bigger fixture with the ceramic base for this bulb.
|
|
Jeffs_little_ocean
Guest
Joined: October 04 2009
Location: Kaysville
Status: Offline
Points: 869
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December 27 2009 at 8:10am |
Justin, This walmart light is 18 inches long, sorry.
I had a nice little coralife CF with a 50/50 grow bulb, one of those pink and white bulbs that is supposed to be made to with the scientifically proven kelvin to maximize the growth in plants and macro. When it burned out, i just bought this cheap light as a temporary until until i could relpace the CF bulb. It was then that I noticed my chaeto growing out of control. Stupid scientists lol. Ive decided that macro likes a low wattage with a very white kelvin. Well at least in my tank.
|
|
Life is good....right?
|
|
becken
Guest
Joined: November 04 2009
Location: Evanston, Wy
Status: Offline
Points: 284
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December 27 2009 at 11:19am |
|
I picked up a fixture from a friend looks pretty much just like that and I was reading it, it says it does 250W I was kinda surprised, but I put a 65W "grow light" and I also have an 18" plant light that I used on my tomato plants that I got from walmart, Maybe I should go buy some cheap bulbs?
|
|
75g with 40g breeder, Dion stand and canopy, G4 skimmer, mag 12 return with seaswirl, 2 AI Vega LEDs
|
|
jwoo
Presidency
Joined: April 29 2009
Location: Alpine
Status: Offline
Points: 3603
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December 27 2009 at 9:54pm |
|
Thanks for all the help everyone. I ended up going to Home Depot and getting the round pendant clip on light and a 60 watt daylight CF. So far it looks really bright to me. Almost brighter than the old Odyssea fixture that I had. I'll let everyone know how it goes! I think my old fixture was on it's way out for several months because my cheato had started growing really really slowly. Hopefully this will help pick it up.
|
|
None at the moment
Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront
|
|
becken
Guest
Joined: November 04 2009
Location: Evanston, Wy
Status: Offline
Points: 284
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 03 2010 at 6:13pm |
|
my chaeto died with the "grow light" CF I bought new cheato yesterday and have the round light with 70W spiral bulb and the 60W daylight CF, basically the same as you have, hows yours doin by the way?
|
|
75g with 40g breeder, Dion stand and canopy, G4 skimmer, mag 12 return with seaswirl, 2 AI Vega LEDs
|
|
jwoo
Presidency
Joined: April 29 2009
Location: Alpine
Status: Offline
Points: 3603
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 03 2010 at 7:24pm |
|
Mine is doing great - my cheato is growing again and everything seems happy. So far so good!
|
|
None at the moment
Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront
|
|
jwoo
Presidency
Joined: April 29 2009
Location: Alpine
Status: Offline
Points: 3603
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 04 2010 at 11:48pm |
|
I did a water change today - first one since I changed lights in my refuge. I did my typical culling of cheato and noticed that it had EXPLODED with the new light. I have not seen growth like this ever. My other light had been dead for three or four days and the cheato had started to die off. This had caused an out break of diatoms and some cyano from the excess nutrients. I had left the new light on 24/7 this past week in hopes of starving out the diatoms. I am happy to say that it worked like a charm. Not only is the cyano and diatoms gone but the cheato was huge. I spent 9 dollars on the whole setup - defiantly the only way to go with a refuge light in my opinion.
|
|
None at the moment
Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront
|
|
chk4tix
Guest
Joined: April 06 2007
Location: Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 4320
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 05 2010 at 4:40pm |
|
I use the same type at MadReefer and I have to throw out chaeto all the time since it grows so fast
|
|
Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2
|
|
beller
Guest
Joined: March 26 2009
Location: Clinton
Status: Offline
Points: 722
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 03 2010 at 7:24pm |
|
would a 250 watt be to much I have one laying around or should I buy a smaller watt
|
|
I love fish I want them all.
|
|
Luckedout
Guest
Joined: October 11 2009
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 1495
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 03 2010 at 7:32pm |
|
An MH 250w? Yeah that would be a bit much for refugium light. Unless it's deep and you use it as a pseudo frag tank.
|
|
-Ben
90g Mixed reef
www.body-balancechiropractic.com
|
|
beller
Guest
Joined: March 26 2009
Location: Clinton
Status: Offline
Points: 722
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 03 2010 at 7:50pm |
so 65 watts would be a good bulb then
Edited by beller - February 03 2010 at 10:31pm
|
|
I love fish I want them all.
|
|
fng
Guest
Joined: May 20 2009
Location: Sandy, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 95
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 04 2010 at 11:27am |
|
OK I have an extra 175W Metal Halide that I am thinking of using for my fuge. Will this be to much light? My fuge will be about 18-20 inches deep.
|
|
no more tank - need to get rid of extra stuff
So much tank stuff, to little money!
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 04 2010 at 2:32pm |
The more light the better, but MH puts out so much heat, it is not the best especially if this is an RDP Refugium and you don't want all that light seeping out the cracks at night.
Years ago when we found how well the $5 clip-on reflector and $5 twist PC bulb worked, we never had to bother with anything else.
The "daylght" color of twist PC 65-150W works best.
Clip it on so it's just the above the high water mark (with return pump off). Secure the clip with a Zip Tie or something to keep the fixture from accidentally falling into the water.  |
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
|
