First refugium - lighting and flora?

[Lylelovett]

Hi all,

Building my first reef tank. Currently fishless cycling so I'm beginning to think about my refugium. My refugium as part of my sump is 15H x 9W x 17D. I'm planning to use rubble vs sand.

My two questions are:
1. What's a good starter algae/plant? I'm assuming chaeto?

and related...

2. What is a good refugium light? Do I just jump in with a Kessil H80 Flora and be set, or go with some kind of "starter" light for that will grow chaeto until I advance to more diverse algae/plants?

Thanks all for your expertise!

 

[Lylelovett]

Hi all,

Building my first reef tank. Currently fishless cycling so I'm beginning to think about my refugium. My refugium as part of my sump is 15H x 9W x 17D. I'm planning to use rubble vs sand.

My two questions are:
1. What's a good starter algae/plant? I'm assuming chaeto?

and related...

2. What is a good refugium light? Do I just jump in with a Kessil H80 Flora and be set, or go with some kind of "starter" light for that will grow chaeto until I advance to more diverse algae/plants?

Thanks all for your expertise!

I'm leaning toward this one: https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Grow-Spectrum-Technology-Dissipation/dp/B0776SXJSS/ or it's bigger brother with dual lights.

Although it's not dimmable (dunno if that's important for me right now), and apparently it get's pretty hot. (also dunno if that matters since it will be running at night.

 

[clipperking]

Did you read the bad reviews, you should

 

[NS Mike D]

I've found that the black box LEDs will grow cheato. They have spectrums and the juice for photosynthesis. I know BRS did the tests with the Kessils on top, but with $30 lights, I have to trim my cheato weekly. If I can grow that much cheato and others are using them with success for corals, it's hard for me to justify paying more for high end lights.

I have no complaints about these two years later

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X84LVH6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ReeferReefer]

I've just been looking at black box leds. The only question is to go with a grow light spectrum or a reef tank spectrum.

 

[lion king]

I've just been looking at black box leds. The only question is to go with a grow light spectrum or a reef tank spectrum.

I would go with grow light spectrum, lighting for the refug doesn't have to be fancy or high end unless you want it to be. You can even use a par38 bulb from home depot. As far as types of macro, I prefer caulerpa, and have found the fear of going sexual to highly exaggerated. I have many friends that use caulerpa as well and have never had issue. Many go with chaeto because of availability, so you can basically go with what is available to you. I got a combo green and a combo red package from Gulf Coast for my last refug. https://www.live-plants.com/

 

[ReeferReefer]

I would go with grow light spectrum, lighting for the refug doesn't have to be fancy or high end unless you want it to be. You can even use a par38 bulb from home depot. As far as types of macro, I prefer caulerpa, and have found the fear of going sexual to highly exaggerated. I have many friends that use caulerpa as well and have never had issue. Many go with chaeto because of availability, so you can basically go with what is available to you. I got a combo green and a combo red package from Gulf Coast for my last refug. https://www.live-plants.com/

I'm growing grape calurpa under an old diy fixture, 50/50 royal blue and cool white Cree leds. It's about time to replace so I was looking some Chinese black boxes. I figure the more power the better if I'm using as my primary nutrient export.

Might give the grow light spectrum a shot this time.

 

[lion king]

I'm growing grape calurpa under an old diy fixture, 50/50 royal blue and cool white Cree leds. It's about time to replace so I was looking some Chinese black boxes. I figure the more power the better if I'm using as my primary nutrient export.

Might give the grow light spectrum a shot this time.

I'm usually a warm white 6000-6500k guy for my macros, but I did a new build and used equipment I had laying around, I had these from an algae scrubber I ditched. These apparently are unavailable but something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010FMFZVG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I am amazed at the job these things are doing, you can find my tank build here, it's an interesting build. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lion-kings-nps-predators-reef.503294/