DIY Refugium lighting, what did you do?

Discussion in 'Refugium' started by mbrady, Aug 20, 2011.

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  1. mbrady

    mbrady Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2011
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    Hey all I have been thinking a bit about lighting my refugium (modded aquaclear 110) and I was wondering what DIY suggestions you had.

    I went by home depot and got a clip on light, however the reflector was tooo big and it flooded have the tank with light, not to mention the rest of the room.

    Any diy suggestions?
     
    mbrady, Aug 20, 2011
    mbrady, Aug 20, 2011
    #1

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  2. tom.n.day

    tom.n.day Eyelash Blennie

    Joined:
    May 17, 2011
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    1,276
    I found get a par light from boost led. Cheap to run and will hit the spot
     
    tom.n.day, Aug 20, 2011
    tom.n.day, Aug 20, 2011
    #2
  3. khowst

    khowst Bangghai Cardinal

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2011
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    FLW, Mo
    What do you have in your fuge? That will drive lighting choices.
     
    khowst, Aug 20, 2011
    khowst, Aug 20, 2011
    #3
  4. mbrady

    mbrady Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2011
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    cheato, I just want it to be a marco algae grow factory.
     
    mbrady, Aug 21, 2011
    mbrady, Aug 21, 2011
    #4
  5. sticksmith23

    sticksmith23 Giant Squid

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    Location:
    Greenville, SC
    I have an aquaclear 50 that I use to run GFO in, but it would be better served to use it like you are doing. I will follow along to see what you find out. How much light are you thinking that you need?
     
    sticksmith23, Aug 21, 2011
    sticksmith23, Aug 21, 2011
    #5
  6. mbrady

    mbrady Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2011
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    Well at the moment I have a modded aquaclear 70 on my 20gallon reef, I got the AC 110 for super cheap to use for my 40 gallon I will be moving to.

    Right now I have a fixture off a old 5gallon petco tank with a 3w led light. It is not growing my macro algae at all and the max watt for the fixture 15watt.

    So I am wondering if I can simply throw like a 12 watt light (looking for suggestions and range) in there and it would work or if I need to upgrade to another fixture for more watts.
     
    mbrady, Aug 21, 2011
    mbrady, Aug 21, 2011
    #6

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  7. destinationluna

    destinationluna Skunk Shrimp

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
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    Location:
    Batavia, IL
    I use a Led flood light that i Found at cosco it was $35 uses next to no electricity its great
     
    destinationluna, Aug 21, 2011
    destinationluna, Aug 21, 2011
    #7
  8. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    Location:
    SE South Dakota
    A $6 clip on shop light and $6 6500k BrightEffects CFL from Lowes will do just as good as any other light.
     
    reefmonkey, Aug 21, 2011
    reefmonkey, Aug 21, 2011
    #8
  9. malac0da13

    malac0da13 Torch Coral

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    Walnutport, PA
    Ditto

    Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
     
    malac0da13, Aug 21, 2011
    malac0da13, Aug 21, 2011
    #9
  10. aquamn1999

    aquamn1999 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2011
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    I use the compact fluorescent flood light bulb that you can get a Lowes or HD.
     
    aquamn1999, Aug 21, 2011
    aquamn1999, Aug 21, 2011
    #10
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