Lighting for Chaeto Algae

[shazane]

What do you guys use for lighting over your refugium or your chaeto algae? What is the cheapest way one can get away with? Would your basic florescent or antic light work?
Thanks

[Chameleon Bob]

shazane

Hey I use the 2 24" flourescent lights that came with my aquarium when I bought it from the store. I put a 50/50 t-12 in each and the refuge is growing like crazy. Now I'm sure someone on this forum will disagree with it, but it works and its cheap.

[gregony]

Hard to disagree with success. That's actually pretty luxurious lighting for a refugium. I saw one guy buys those Ten Dollar 5500K PCF yard spotlights and one those cheap ceramic screw-in sockets (like you see in people's basements) and lights his refugium that way. Out the door for under twenty bucks.

[Chameleon Bob]

haha yes I've seen that too, my LFS actually has one on his refuge. I've also heard of people spending a hundred or more on these lights.

shazane
you'll also wanna run the lights 24/7

[charlie]

Why would you want to run it 24/7?

Just run the fuge lites opposite of your display lites, chaeto likes some rest time too.

JMHO

[Chameleon Bob]

In the basic saltwater aquarium you run your lights for 10 to 14 hours during which time plants and zooxanthellae convert carbon dioxide to oxygen utilizing a process called photosynthesis. This higher oxygen level helps to stabilize your pH level in your tank. Once the lights are turned off, plants and animals use the oxygen and convert it back to carbon dioxide. This process tends to have an adverse effect on your pH levels. Depending on biological load, the oxygen level may decrease severly and take the pH down along with it. To combat this process you simply fill a refugium with macroalgae, keep the lights on for 24 hours and you have full time oxygen generation. No more oxygen related pH crashes.

Charlie,

I was told by all the long timers on this forum to run it like this, actually you might be the only one I've heard of that doesn't. My LFS told me that you want the plants grow all the time so they can take out bad stuff all the time. I'm just passing along what I've learned and it's doing great so far.

[charlie]

To each his own, but the 24/7 thing started with the miracle mud about 10 years ago, and was used with caulerpa only, search it my friend. what works for me may not work for you, so do what you have to.
I know about the ph thing there Bob, been in this hobby at bit to long not to.:eek3:

Is there anywhere in the world where plants/corals get light 24/7????

[Chameleon Bob]

Your right there isn't a place that runs 24/7 but they really don't have an option to. But like you said what works for you might not work for me. I haven't found a good reason not to run the lights 24/7, but I'm open ears to know one. In this hobby one can't learn enough.