Fuge light opinion

I have a 10g sump with a fuge compartment. What do you think of these bulbs for chaeto?

Some are 6500k. The enclosed one is 5000k

 

Both would probably work fine.

I use a metal clamp on reflector, and a 100W equiv. CFL bulb in it x 2 on my large chaeto basket. I light it 12on, 12off and it grows like crazy. I give it away often.

 

Those would work, chaeto will grow under just about anything. But the 5000k - 6500k spectrum is good for macro. I heard 5100k is optimal for cheato growing.

 

I have a clamp on fixture to use. Mainly I'm just trying to decide if the open twist bulb is ok or should I get the enclosed ine

 

I use the open twist kind, I'm sure the other will work too, and it's already a 'spot' light

 

Philips 12-Watt (65W) BR30 Bright White (3000K) LED Flood Light Bulb-420281 at The Home Depot

I am using something like that^. I am not sure it's working for me. My chaeto doesn't really grow.

 

Yeah it's only a 3000k bulb. I'd say at least a 5000k is needed. I work at lowes so I'm always looking at things and how I can use them on my tanks! Lol

 

Here's a 5000k LED if you wanna spend some cash

 

Should I lean more towards the 5000K or 6500K? The higher wattage the better?

 

Either bulb will work, 5000k will cause it to grow like crazy IMO. I would say the 6500k will keep a good balance of growth and filtration. Otherwise you will be trimming it all the time (you will still need to do this just not as often if you use the 6500k). As for the wattage, if you go with LED it will be lower wattage because LED's do not require as much energy to run. As I mentioned before, cheato will pretty much grow under just about any lighting, so if you put either of those bulbs over it you shouldn't have any problems. The wattage doesn't have to be extreme because you're only using it for this cheato.