Macro aint doing too good.

[linuxguru]

I have a 40g sump that has had some caulerpa in it for abt 2 months now. The algae is living, but it sure aint striving. I was for a while there using an 18" 15 watt regular flourescent bulb that came with the strip lite for abt a month, then I changed the bulb to a 15 watt hagen powerglo. I dont see any improvement. What kind of lighting do I need, what wattage, what wavelength. Flourescent or Incandescent, I know MH would work, but I do not want to go that route. Please, any suggestions would be "ExtremelY" helpful.

[charlie]

I think if you have an old pc fixture, that might do the trick. Caulerpa likes lite. I used to have a couple of daylite vho's over my refuge until I turned it into a frag tank--refuge. The caulerpa and chaeto did good underneath the vho. HTH

[vtec si]

I use a 13watt 50/50 mini pc 24/7 and my macro is out of control. I agree with charlie, use a old/used pc.

Good luck,
Martin

[Poseidon]

I use 2 of those Spiral compact flourescents in simple "clamp light" fixture. So far so good. I bought the bulbs as 75 watt equivalents they are something like 23 watt though in reality. Remember though, wattage is a measure of consumption, not BRIGHTNESS.

[charlie]

I use 2 of those Spiral compact flourescents in simple "clamp light" fixture. So far so good. I bought the bulbs as 75 watt equivalents they are something like 23 watt though in reality. Remember though, wattage is a measure of consumption, not BRIGHTNESS.

Mike, what kind of macro do you have??
I have also heard of people going to Home Depot and getting the LOA. (I hope that is right). You are correct on the wattage statement, that's why watts per gallon is just dumb!!!

[gqsmoothster]

I use 2 of those Spiral compact flourescents in simple "clamp light" fixture. So far so good. I bought the bulbs as 75 watt equivalents they are something like 23 watt though in reality. Remember though, wattage is a measure of consumption, not BRIGHTNESS.

I am considering going this route. Can you tell me how long is "so far"? I think you may be on to something here, and I'm trying to put something together for my graciliaria.