Light

[sfin52]

I've got a tank that's 55 g has 3 yellow tail damsels, melanrus wrasse, cinnamon clown, pink spot goby. What lights do I need to grow macro algea. I want to use it as food for my reef tank. Suggestions .

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Lighting is about budget plain and simple.
Then furniture looks.

The high end orchid growers I know use a combo of cool white and warm white t12s.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

I've got a tank that's 55 g has 3 yellow tail damsels, melanrus wrasse, cinnamon clown, pink spot goby. What lights do I need to grow macro algea. I want to use it as food for my reef tank. Suggestions .

I would love to sell you some macroalgae @sfin52, but I dont think any of the fish you currently have will eat macroalgae. If you still want a suggestion, let me know.

 

[sfin52]

That's sweet. I'm still working on equipment. Looking for lights. What type of lights should I be looking for. Don't need reg reef lights or can I go with more simple.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

That's sweet. I'm still working on equipment. Looking for lights. What type of lights should I be looking for. Don't need reg reef lights or can I go with more simple.

Will this be going in a fuge/sump or will it be over the display tank?

 

[sfin52]

It'll be over DT. The algea will be the focus of the DT

 

[Katrina71]

@Manose maybe you could give him ideas?

 

[AlgaeBarn]

It'll be over DT. The algea will be the focus of the DT

So I am assuming you don't want a heavy red color from the DT? You best bet would likely be some lighting in the 6.5k-10k spectrum.

 

[sfin52]

So t8 will be good right? I currently have a heavy planted freshwater. Would that same type of light work?

 

[AlgaeBarn]

So t8 will be good right? I currently have a heavy planted freshwater. Would that same type of light work?

How many watts of t8? The same type of light should work, as long as you are okay with the color.

 

[sfin52]

When the tank has lights on it i visit your site. I've already browsed to your selection.

 

[Subsea]

In the old days, using T8 on a 55G reef tank required cramming (4-6) 40W T8 four foot tubes 2” above the water.

Depending on the macro, that is a sufficient light intensity. The best spectrum is what suites your viewing pleasure. The seaweed will usually adapt to what it needs. If you are limited to only T8, I have found that using daylight Delux at 6500 kelvin coupled with actinic spectrum gives a pleasant display at about 10K color rendition. Try it, you might like it.

 

[sfin52]

Thanks. I'm looking at corallife 10000k daylight now.