Looking for "plant friendly" bulbs for Mini Light

[JT101]

I bought the little Coralife Mini light (2 x 6W, 9" T5 bulbs). The lighting system comes with (1) actinic and (1) 10000k daylight bulb.

I put a bunch of caleurpa in my refugium (the middle portion of my Aqueon ProFlex Model 3 sump) and noticed after about a week that some of the caleurpa is turning white.

I assume that either I don't have enough total wattage altogether (only 12 watts) OR the light combo is not very plant-friendly.

I was in Home Depot last night and noticed that Philips makes a 9" T-5 bulb rated at 3000K and is called a "kitchen and bath light". I did a little research and found that 3000k is good for plants.

Can I assume that by switching-out my present bulbs for these Philips bulbs that it will help with my caleurpa production?

Thanks
John

 

[Master Shake]

the actinic isnt really for the plants, the regular energy savers bulbs from home depot should be just fine. I had the 20w coralife on my chaeto in my sump for about a year, it did not die but also did not grow that much. i changed the bulb to a regular energy saver about 3 weeks ago and it started growing alot more. O and im not a fan of culerpa because the light needs to be on 24/7. chaeto only needs the light on when the tank light is off

 

[Bryceandmandy]

I went to lowes and got a screw in cl bulb that was 6500k. I put it in a painters light and thr caulerpa went nuts

 

[NYreefNoob]

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[JT101]

I went to Home Depot yesterday and picked-up one of those metal "brooder" hoods and a 60W, 5000K daylight fluoroscent light. I'm going to set it up tonight.

The reason I opted for the 5000k is because I read that 5000K-10000K is good for macro algae.

I could have always swapped-out the actinic buld in my little Coralife Mini light with a 10000k, but even then it would STILL only be a total of 12W.

If this works out I'll have to "unload" the Coralife as I'll have no use for it

 

[JT101]

O and im not a fan of culerpa because the light needs to be on 24/7. chaeto only needs the light on when the tank light is off

Hmmmm, I didn't know that - thanks! Is chaeto a better macro algae as far as nutrient/nitrate exportation? If it is then I can't see why anybody would use caleurpa since you can save electricity with the chaeto...

 

[Imbarrie]

Cheato is a great place for pods also since it grows so densely.
+1 on the CF light with the clip on light. But I bought a 6500 online at 1000bulbs.com and I'm growing a variety of macro from reefcleaners.com and donations.

You are close by I'll give you a couple starter macros, when you get set up give me a shout.

 

[JT101]

Cheato is a great place for pods also since it grows so densely.
+1 on the CF light with the clip on light. But I bought a 6500 online at 1000bulbs.com and I'm growing a variety of macro from reefcleaners.com and donations.

You are close by I'll give you a couple starter macros, when you get set up give me a shout.

Thanks :biggrin:

John