Fuge lighting

[FinalPhaze987]

Im currently running a 22 watt NF on my fuge at the moment but not experiencing the "exceptional" growth from my chaeto everyone else has...

i was wondering if the problem may be my lighting...how many watts should i be running if so? Thanks for the help....

 

[Kasey]

Good question, as I am wondering the same.

If someone could post the "expected" growth rate as well....?

 

[Kasey]

Anyone?

 

[Mthompson]

My understanding is that it is not so much a matter of watts, but more the spectrum output of the bulb. If you only want chaeto to grow in the fuge, and you don't have any other light requirements for other organisms, then just put in some plant bulbs. This should give you the correct spectrum for algae growth.

Chaeto doesn't really have high light requirements, so there might be another limiting factor. Is there enough nitrates and phosphates to support the growth? If chaeto does what you want it to do, it ideally remove all of the excess nutrients in the system.

Check into those two things and see if it helps..

 

[mr_X]

i have 89 watts of 6400k over my fuge. my refugium is 28" x 18".
Mthompson is accurate about the excess nutrients though.

i noticed that chaetomorpha does better in a more turbulent enviornment. i put a powerhead in my fuge, blowing the macros back away from the return side, and i believe this possibly caused a growth spurt. it was either that, or the fact that i also get about 1 inch of very dark skimmate a day out of my skimmer cup, which is about 9 inches across, so i have plenty of nasties for the macros to eat.

 

[FinalPhaze987]

thanks for the replies...i switched out the light today to a T5 3 bulb set up...theres now 72 watts over the fuge using 6500k bulbs...i read they grow better over a reddish spectrum so hopefully this helps....you maybe right about the nutrients...i got a butt load of life rock and a deep sand bed that helps with nutrient export so it keeps nitrates at or below 5...

again, thanks for the replies....one thing you can count on from this forum is advise...

 

[Kasey]

Would a plant bulb HARM other organisms? - Live sand/live rock/snails/hermit crabs?

What if you ran BOTH a plant bulb and a 50/50?

 

[mr_X]

no. it won't harm anything. i don't think the 50/50 will be very effective though. the blue side of the bulb is a waste IMO. you mean over your refugium, right?

 

[Kasey]

Yes, over the refugium.