Cheap refugium light?

Nano Gabe · Oct 21, 2019

Anyone know of a good one?

LetItReef · Oct 21, 2019

Check out this one:

14 foot reef · Oct 21, 2019

nothing good is cheap. buy quality or buy twice.

hotdrop · Oct 21, 2019

Most things will work I’m running ai fuge ands it’s pretty overkill but the built in controller is a super nice qol item

Robinson · Oct 21, 2019

Take a look at this option, I have this one running for 18 months, 12hrs a day and still going strong. Also is waterproof and because is in the refugium salt is over the lens too. I just clean mine and keep going. I do have to trim the chaeto every week. For $30 if it get bad, I will get another one and still will save a lot!

XRZT LED Grow Lights, 100W Waterproof LED Grow Light Full Spectrum with Natural Heat Dissipation, Ultra Thin and Perfect for Indoor/Outdoor Plants All Growing, Without Noise (Gift Hooks)

Nano Gabe · Oct 22, 2019

Robinson said:
Take a look at this option, I have this one running for 18 months, 12hrs a day and still going strong. Also is waterproof and because is in the refugium salt is over the lens too. I just clean mine and keep going. I do have to trim the chaeto every week. For $30 if it get bad, I will get another one and still will save a lot!

XRZT LED Grow Lights, 100W Waterproof LED Grow Light Full Spectrum with Natural Heat Dissipation, Ultra Thin and Perfect for Indoor/Outdoor Plants All Growing, Without Noise (Gift Hooks)

I’m glad to hear you have had it running for a while and like it! That’s the one I was actually going to buy!

Auto-pilot · Oct 22, 2019

Some lights come with fans, my only advice Is don't buy those. If the light is in the stand or something near the water the salt will kill it fast. Get one that just has heat exchangers instead

Robinson · Oct 22, 2019

Auto-pilot said:
Some lights come with fans, my only advice Is don't buy those. If the light is in the stand or something near the water the salt will kill it fast. Get one that just has heat exchangers instead

The one that I recommended is with heat exchanger, no fan or movable parts.

fishface NJ · Oct 22, 2019

I also use this. Works extremely well. Don't let the price fool you! I have been using it for over a year.

LetItReef said:
Check out this one:

Dana Riddle · Oct 22, 2019

The 'best' light depends upon a number of factors, but that muddies the water (no pun intended.) I used a 9-watt Cree LED lamp in an inexpensive aluminum reflector to grow Chaeto in a refugium. No need to buy an expensive light.

AdamB · Oct 22, 2019

This light is fairly inexpensive that I have attached to my fuge. Chaeto grows like crazy with this light ! Been going for almost a year now. I just hooked it up to timer for night run.

hotdrop · Oct 22, 2019

Dana Riddle said:
The 'best' light depends upon a number of factors, but that muddies the water (no pun intended.) I used a 9-watt Cree LED lamp in an inexpensive aluminum reflector to grow Chaeto in a refugium. No need to buy an expensive light.

Trust in Dana this man knows lights. Seriously you need a lot less light than you might think and the seals nature of the led bulbs makes them ideal for this location

drawman · Nov 18, 2019

Dana Riddle said:
The 'best' light depends upon a number of factors, but that muddies the water (no pun intended.) I used a 9-watt Cree LED lamp in an inexpensive aluminum reflector to grow Chaeto in a refugium. No need to buy an expensive light.

Dana do you have a link? Or is this just a low Kelvin hardware store bulb?

tnw50cal · Nov 18, 2019

AdamB said:
This light is fairly inexpensive that I have attached to my fuge. Chaeto grows like crazy with this light ! Been going for almost a year now. I just hooked it up to timer for night run.

This what I bought(get from Marine Depot,Amazon charges tax). He ain't kidding about growing chaeto like crazy, mine doubles in size every week.

mfinn · Nov 18, 2019

I use a Lowes 5k led bulb with the clamp-on metal reflector.
First time I bought one about 8-9 years ago they were $28 each.
But they lasted 8+ years.
Last year I replaced them ( still working) for new 5k led bulbs and they about $8 each.

alton · Nov 18, 2019

Mine in my 65 g. LED par lamp in a keyless fixture. and a picture of a brain coral that I thought died so I removed it from the tank after the crash and left it in my sump under the Par light for six months and now it is back in the tank