lighting for macroalgea

[chris_h]

I set up a 70 gallon refugium to grow macro algea in. I put a 175 watt halide on it. The 175 watt halide was not enough light to grow the algea. I am going to switch the 175 watt with a 250 watt. Will 250 watts be enough to grow the macroalgea.

 

[danmhippo]

how deep is your tank, how far is the light from algae, and how long is your tank?

 

[chris_h]

It is a seventy gallon rubbermaid container that I got at a farm store.

36 inch long and 30 inch wide. I am keeping it about half full (17 inches high)

here is a picture of the setup http://www.seidata.com/~geheaton/sump.htm

[ September 08, 2001: Message edited by: chris_h ]

 

[chris_h]

Here is a more recent picture of the refugium that shows under the water some. http://www.seidata.com/~geheaton/chris/Sump02.JPG
I had to move those mushrooms out becouse they were not geting enough light.

This picture also shows the LOA compact flourescent bulb I added. It didnt help any.
Do you think mabey the bulbs should be moved closer the the water.

 

[SPC]

Hi Chris, the 175 should be plenty of light, many people are getting by with the LOA fixtures which are only 65 watts. I would try to move your light down closer to the water.
Steve

 

[esmithiii]

I use one LOA fixture (65 Watts PC) and mine grows like crazy. It is only 5-6" from the surface of the water, and the water is only about 8-10" deep.

E

 

[Anonymous]

I tried twice to grow caulerpa in my main tank and the refugium - it wouldn't grow in either place - died and disintegrated - feeding all that phosphorous back into the tank. I started dripping kalk to help with the hair algae (worked) and got a little hitch hiker caulerpa with a rock - caulerpa grows great now, so it might not be your lighting. My refugium has a cheap little flourescent grow light and my tank has 4x96 PC's - I have caulerpa in both right now.

 

[chris_h]

I have some growing in my main tank that is doing well, so it is definatly the lighting. THe mushrooms also grew well in the main tank but not in the refugium.

I will try to lower the lights.

 

[davelin315]

Maybe your light is really really old? I can't imagine that it's your lighting, as 175Watts is plenty for just growing plants. Heck, you could probably even grow it with a 15Watt grow and show incandescent from what I understand. And, you have only about 30 gallons of water in the refugium or so, and if it doesn't look like the light has to penetrate that far down to hit the macro. Maybe you just have too much current or something going on in there that is causing your problems?

 

[chris_h]

THe water is basicaly stagnant except the protien skimmer. The lights are old. They are used bulbs that I changed after a year on the reef.

I think the lighting is probaly too high above the water so it is not penatrating. It is about 2 feet above the surface.

 

[davelin315]

Try changing the bulbs, it may just be that they have lost their intensity and spectrum through a years use (I think MH are only supposed to last a year anyway before they deteriorate to the point of being useless). It may not be cost effective, but get some plant lights from a hydroponics store or a greenhouse, they're 4100K I believe, but I've read articles that say that even 4100K is good enough to raise SPS, although they will all be brown.

 

[Reefer Dude1]

Mine is growing great under normal old 125w grow lights.

 

[sub trate]

Mine is in the sand in my 29 gallon and I only have a 20 watt 50/50 Grows ike crazy.....So well i dont know.....interesting.