what bulbs to use for refugium light?

[afboundguy]

With a refugium light do you run 2 daylight or 1 daylight and one actinic? For the daylight bulbs is 10000K or 6500K better?

 

[Peter Fernandes]

It really depends on what you want and what you are doing with your fuge. My fuge is a mix bag of live rock,chaeto, and cast away corals. I also use it as a frag tank. If you want to just grow some macro then a Home depot lights of america 6500k PC light works well. I use 2 nova extreme t5 fixtures running about 100watts of just 10k.

 

[ZenMastr1968]

In my current 10gal, I just use a clip on desk lamp with a standard spiral compact florescent bulb shining down on the HOB filter that I converted to a fuge. It only has cheato, LR, and LS and the cheato grows so much, I have to cut half of it back every week.... When I upgrade to the larger tank - hopefully soon - I'll probably just use the same light setup. Though I will have enough room in the new fuge to have a small cleanup crew to keep it tidier.

 

[JohnK]

I'd say go with the 2x 6.5K bulbs for the average ref set up. The blue in a higher K lamp won't really accomplish anything. By using the lower K lamps you will get the most actual light out put for the expense/energy used.

If you don't already have the light set up, I'd agree that the lights of america PC's from HD are a great and inexpensive option.

 

[JayM]

The LoA PC fixture at home depot has served my refugiums well, and it's only 65w.

 

[customclimates]

It really depends on what you want and what you are doing with your fuge. My fuge is a mix bag of live rock,chaeto, and cast away corals. I also use it as a frag tank. If you want to just grow some macro then a Home depot lights of america 6500k PC light works well. I use 2 nova extreme t5 fixtures running about 100watts of just 10k.

I have a brand new one for sale if interested...Link below to thread.
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53567
Light specs:
http://www.energyfederation.org/loa/default.php/cPath/2411_2414_2416