what kind of light source do I need for a refugium

[clownfishplace]

I tring to start my first refugium but I don't know what kind of light source I need. I think it is only going to be like a 20 gallon refugium. Can I use just any light or do I have to buy one of the more coastly ones.
Any help would be great.

[caferacermike]

I use an Oddysea 18w pc power compact on a 7g fuge. My friend Matt in Austin sells power compact lights super cheap. The brand Oddysea does not have a great reputation for quality but some of the products can be used for things like a fuge without trouble. I picked up a 130w dual 65w pc fixture with 12k bulbs for less than $100 and use it over a 20g planted tank. www.thehobbypalace.com

[carlinsa]

i use just a regular SHOP style light and a plant light. cheap way to get off an i been using it now for about a year with no problems.

[saltcreepette]

i went to HD and got a clamp fixture and a spot lamp (philips 45W indoor outdoor spot 530 lumens Par38) and it grows my cheato pretty well. whole project=$10

[OldSalty]

You don't need expensive systems over a fuge. All I use is a 6500k super day bulb I got at Wallmart. It's one of those new type compact pc type. Just screw it in and forget about it. Mine is on 24/7

[gcantu]

You don't need expensive systems over a fuge. All I use is a 6500k super day bulb I got at Wallmart. It's one of those new type compact pc type. Just screw it in and forget about it. Mine is on 24/7

I second that! Just go to the fish section at Wal Mart and look for the PC bulb that is 6500k ( $4 or $5) and purchase a clamp light ($5 or $6). It works for me too. 24/7

[GaryP]

You want the low K value bulbs for a refugium. Sunlight is 5.5K. You get more PAR value from a low K bulb and they are cheaper. You can get the fluorescent gro-light fixtures from Home Depot with a 5.5K bulb pretty cheap in the lighting section.

[saltcreepette]

Gary, I tried to find the K designation on many a bulb but none of them had it. it has the watts, lumens, PAR 38 (is that the same thing reefers mean when they talk about PAR?), but no K indication. am I missing it? (I still have the box!) of course, this is a halogen bulb. do they only have the K rating on the flourescent bulbs? (I am not mechanically inclined or a DIYer obviously! I let my husband do all that stuff!)

[clownfishplace]

thank you
that is great I didn't like the idea that I would have buy an expensive lights, I can now get started right away.

[caferacermike]

Joshua I forgot to mention that fixture as I thought they quit making them. Those are awseome lights. I too think I paid about $35 for one about a year ago. It worked and looked great. I had since given it to a friend that wanted it for a nano. It's teh one with the mogul type base and a huge screw in PC bulb. It is 65w. Sold as a floodlight for hte house. Not every store carried tehm when i was looking. They all had the bulbs but not the fixture. My 18w PC is in need of a new bulb. The bulb is about the same price as the whole fixture and bulb from Lights of America, ,maybe I'll just switch to that.

[Enigma13]

I know the Home Depot on Brodie carries the floodlight setup discussed in the above posts or did as recently as a month ago when I bought one for my fuge.

[caferacermike]

Enigma that's the one in Sunset Valley right? Yeah that was the only HDepot in Austin that I could find them a year ago. I did hear that there was some sort of disagreement with Lights of America and HDepot was discontinuing them at that time. Now I hear they still carry them.

[Enigma13]

Yes, the one in Sunset Valley. Like I said they still had them a month ago.

[FireEater]

I run two of the LOA Sunlight Bulbs from Walmart on my sump. The growth is unbelievable as well as the coralline growth. I paid around 8 bucks a piece for them.

Click HERE (http://www.local1259iaff.org/125greeftank.htm) and read my third paragraph on lighting on my tank and you will see pics of them in the package along with the k rating.