Sump Light....
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27220
Printed Date: June 30 2026 at 4:56pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Sump Light....
Posted By: Nick801
Subject: Sump Light....
Date Posted: July 31 2008 at 4:47pm
|
Does anyone know where I can find the energy saving type of sump light? anyway I heard from a few people (jeff/deb) that I could find a good one at home depot... but my home depot is lame... or all home depots recently just got new stock? as far as lighting....
if anyone has any suggestions they would be appreciated =)
I also forgot exactly what type of light I should be looking for?
this is what it looks like now
http://imageshack.us">  ------------- http://www.reefinsanity.com" rel="nofollow - www.ReefInsanity.com http://www.facebook.com/ReefInsanity" rel="nofollow - www.Facebook.com/ReefInsanity 801-680-4676 |
Replies:
Posted By: Eventine
Date Posted: July 31 2008 at 4:50pm
|
we use the plain compact fluorescent light bulb that you would use in the kitchen and our macro grows like mad.
------------- CrimsRayne's offical water mule West Jordan |
Posted By: ssilcox
Date Posted: July 31 2008 at 4:58pm
| The one you are looking for is a "Lights of america" 65w power compact outdoor floodlight. It has a brown plastic housing. They work really, really well for sump lights. |
Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: July 31 2008 at 5:30pm
we use the same one, but in white! ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
ssilcox wrote:Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: August 07 2008 at 8:10am
|
looking at the lights of america page =) I can't find a 65w .... http://www.lightsofamerica.com/products.htm - http://www.lightsofamerica.com/products.htm although the 42w does a 65k color temp?------------- http://www.reefinsanity.com" rel="nofollow - www.ReefInsanity.com http://www.facebook.com/ReefInsanity" rel="nofollow - www.Facebook.com/ReefInsanity 801-680-4676 |
Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: August 07 2008 at 9:39am
|
This should be the one right?
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=57889-57299-9166B&lpage=none - http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=57889-57299-9166B&lpage=none ? ------------- http://www.reefinsanity.com" rel="nofollow - www.ReefInsanity.com http://www.facebook.com/ReefInsanity" rel="nofollow - www.Facebook.com/ReefInsanity 801-680-4676 |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: August 07 2008 at 6:53pm
|
Nick:
http://www.lightsofamerica.com/sec.htm - http://www.lightsofamerica.com/sec.htm
Scroll down to model # 9265 / 9266 / 9267 (same fixture, different colored housings)
This fixture features the bulb you posted above inside the correct fixture for it.
(I don't know if your current fixture wouldwork or not)
About $40 at Home Depot - not sure of the price at Lowes.
I have also heard that Costco has carried this fixture for like half the price but have not checked that out.
I have used this fixture for the past 2.5 years and have not found a better sump light as far as combining efficiency with macro growth - although model # 92102 looks tempting, but i'm afraid I'll blind myself with 1000w (comparable) worth of light on my sump!
 ------------- - My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: August 07 2008 at 7:02pm
|
lol so I'm going insane =) .... first I was told it was just a 6 dollar bulb =)? then I've been hunting all over the valley for it, then I picked up a 50/50 corallife compact light from the aquarium and just using that for now ------------- http://www.reefinsanity.com" rel="nofollow - www.ReefInsanity.com http://www.facebook.com/ReefInsanity" rel="nofollow - www.Facebook.com/ReefInsanity 801-680-4676 |
Posted By: sanddune600
Date Posted: August 08 2008 at 10:06am
|
some bulbs need a ballast to run others have them built in if you want the best get the light from lights of america if you want something that will do a decent job you can get a twisty flourecent bulb RATED at 6700k with the highest watts you can find this is the 6 dollar bulb you heard about http://cgi.ebay.com/15-watt-6700K-HIGH-KELVIN-FULL-SPECTRUM-LIGHT-BULB_W0QQitemZ180117169240QQcmdZViewItem - http://cgi.ebay.com/15-watt-6700K-HIGH-KELVIN-FULL-SPECTRUM-LIGHT-BULB_W0QQitemZ180117169240QQcmdZViewItem ------------- Andy Jorgensen My number is four three 5 7 six four 8 0 three four |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: August 08 2008 at 6:48pm
|
From the look of that light in the pic it's either an ordinary incandescent bulb or a soft white bulb. That's the major thing you need to change. Also move the light so that it's more centered over the refugium to take advantage of all the light from the fixture. That clamp-on fixture works great but the best bulb to use is the highest wattage value "daylight" spiral fluorescent bulb you can find. Don't worry so much about getting the exact one that everyone is saying here. The most important thing is to get a daylight coloration (it's more blue, not soft white) at 65W or better. If my memory serves, it's about $9. Unfortunately many stores carry only the soft white end of the spectrum. It's too yellow, growing more slimey brown algae than the bluer spectrum bulbs. I'd also check other stores thart sell lights, Ace Hardware, Walmart, etc, etc. Now let's talk about growing a flourishing crop of algae in the refugium. Algae needs four things: good bright sunlight, high water flow, nutrients from the display tank and room to grow. Harvest it regularly after it covers 90 % of it's avalable space. Harvest it back to about 1/2 of the space so it can grow again. Nutrients include Iron. That's why Miracle Mud a.k.a. "backyard dirt" is useful. Also, I see a lot of unused space in your refugium. I would place a 3-4" Utah sand bed in there. Few rocks, just sand. If the sand is covered by rocks it can't do it's job. A refugium as tall as yours is an ideal place for that. From the looks of it I'd say it will increase the filtration capacity of your system by ~30%  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: August 08 2008 at 10:56pm
|
Yeah I haven't had a chance to get more sand or rubble yet (Does anyone have any extra)?=) I'll be working on that....
=) but I guess I'll just look for a daylight bulb next time... ------------- http://www.reefinsanity.com" rel="nofollow - www.ReefInsanity.com http://www.facebook.com/ReefInsanity" rel="nofollow - www.Facebook.com/ReefInsanity 801-680-4676 |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: August 08 2008 at 11:28pm
|
If you can't find any Utah oolitic you can use silica playsand. I got mine from HD at like $3 for a 50 lb bag. It is an acceptable substitute in a fuge - just wash it thoroughly first
------------- - My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: August 10 2008 at 1:28am
|
I recently asked here for Utah sand because I don't get to Salt Lake very often and never have time to go out and collect it like I used to. I had more offered to me than I could accept.
I have found that Silica sand will not do the same as Oolitic. It packs too dense creating too much black SO2 sand areas and does not provide any CaCO3 dissolution. I would not use it.
Look at HD for the daylight twist PC bulbs by "N;vision" They even make it easy for you by providing a light color scale right on the package. The "daylight" ones show on the blue side of the scale. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Posted By: kdinkel
Date Posted: August 15 2008 at 2:31pm
|
Not to Hijack this, but I am looking to improve the same thing. I have a lot of live rock in my sump/refug. Is it better to have 3-4 inches of sand? Should I go deeper? I have a florescent kitchen light attached to the inside of my stand (mounted on the side above the sump) and the florescent light that I had on a 20 L. It is just the cheapo light that comes on as part of a lid. I think they are T12 or T8 and it is 24". Is that bright enough? Do I need to change the bulbs yearly for here as well? ------------- 29 gallon reef |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: August 15 2008 at 5:03pm
|
In my experience, 3-4" of LS covering the bottom of a Refugium is many times better than LR. The depth can be increased to 6" which will provide more low pH area to dissolve the sand, releasing CaCo3 into the water.
The light on a RDP (Reverse Daylight Photosynthesis) refugium should be very bright, as bright as possible, unless you are going for a Benthic/Sponge Refugium, then the old kitchen light will work just fine so the sponge can grow on the sides and bottom of the LR.
Fluorescent tubes lose most of their power (like about 60%) by a year. For the bright light needed for an RDP Refugium they should be changed before a year is up. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Posted By: kdinkel
Date Posted: August 15 2008 at 5:06pm
|
Thanks for the help. I will buy a new bulb and add 6" of sand! ------------- 29 gallon reef |
Posted By: kdinkel
Date Posted: August 15 2008 at 5:36pm
|
Do pods need some live rock in my sump? I have a pretty good population down there that I don't want to lose. ------------- 29 gallon reef |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: August 16 2008 at 12:21pm
|
Pods live in macroalgae but you can also place some large sand or LR rubble in an area of the Refugium to encourage more bugs. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: August 18 2008 at 5:50pm
| Thanks for all the info I was just thinking to myself today that I need to find out more about the fuge. I just set up my fist one so I hope all goes well with it. |