LED refugium lighting?

[kanapino]

Anybody doing or ever tried lighting their refugium with full spectrum LEDs?

The reason being is less heat emitted and cost of running them constantly is really cheap.

Brian

 

[Unarce]

I've thought about doing it, but it's just too expensive right now over here. Depends on the size and what your keeping in the refugium. If it were small with macroalgae, a strip of 10 blue LEDs would work. If it were a large sump with macroalgae, xenia, clams, etc., than you would probably need at least 2X50 clusters (one white and one blue) which can be pretty pricy.

LEDs are the future of reef lighting, but costs are still too high to make enough light for a whole tank.

 

[Anonymous]

you need those high powered LEDs...they get really bright...

 

[K9coral]

Who sells "high output" leds for the marine aquariums?

 

[Anonymous]

Good luck DLART...i hear its gonna be the new lighting style...im not quite sure how thats gonna work..you think your MH ushio bulb can be pricey...try building your own fixture...it will get EXPENSIVE

 

[kanapino]

Thx reefnutz. I was actually just wondering if anyone had tried it and how the success is. But the info you added was a help as to whether it's good enough just blue or a mixture.

I think the positive aspects outweigh most of the costs on a small refugium, those being less heat and low cost when left running 24/7.

By the way, I think it's expensive everywhere.

Brian

 

[Unarce]

Brian,

If you eventually decide not to go the LED route yet, you could just run your refugium lighting opposite your photoperiod instead of 24/7. The main reason it's lit 24/7 is to prevent Caulerpas from going asexual. If you keep Chaetomorpha algae instead, you won't have to worry about that.

 

[kanapino]

Thx reefnutz that's a good option. But right now I have various Caulerpa species and wanted to avoid the risk.

Brian