Refugium Lighting

[Reefres]

Need some help with my refugium lighting: 24"Lx12"Wx20"D.
I'm looking at either the 24" Aqualight with 1-36W 50/50 lamp or the Finnex 24" 1-36W PC fixture-Jalli White PC bulb. Has anybody used either and will they provide sufficient lighting? Any additional suggestions are always appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ChrisRD]

IMO that's a minimal amount of lighting if you're looking to grow macros for nutrient export.

Personally, I'd use at least 2 full length (24") lamps if possible like 2 X 55 watt PCs or something similar. I'd also stick to daylight type lamps like the 6500Ks.

 

[Reefres]

Thanks for the reply, based on your anwer I seem to way off so I'm glad I asked. I'm not looking for a minimum system but more along the line of ideal system (if possible) so would you still go with the 55W or would you upgrade more? Is lighting in the Refugium similar to that of the main tank where the opinion is normally the more the better or is there a point of overkill?

 

[ChrisRD]

Well, what you're proposing will grow stuff, but more light will grow a wider range of things and grow it faster (thus greater nutrient export).

I think a 55 watt PC would be OK, but personally I'd rather do 2 X 55 watt or something similar.

FWIW, I use a cheap 65 watt PC worklight over the little fuge area of my sump (only about an 8 gallon section).

I hesitate to recommend these things because the quality of them is sorta poor, but mine has been working for a couple of years without a hitch.

Home Depot and WalMart carry them - made by Lights of America. A couple of those might work well for you as a cheap solution. Do a search here on the board for "LOA" or "Lights of America", should turn something up...

HTH