Looking for a decent (affordable) light for the fuge

[RapidReefer]

Hey can i get some recommendations for a great growing light for chaeto and other macros. Please only recommendations that are affordable and by that i mean under 100 dollars?

 

[Nathan Milender]

A lot of people report success with ordinary light bulbs with a grow spectrum. You piece together your own hardware and try to seal it up. Likely less than 20 bucks and your time.

 

[JonoB]

I just used an LED grow light from Home Depot in one of those clamp on shop light things. Grew Chaeto like crazy and didn't cost much at alll..

 

[Potatohead]

A 10-15w LED grow flood light works fine, I have used one for years. They're about $15 or so.

 

[gabrieltackitt]

The Chaetomax is a good light for like $70-100 dollars.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/auqa...1-refugium-led-18-watt-innovative-marine.html

 

[dopey]

I have the tunze light. I'm growing caulerpa.

Can post pics later but the grow has been absolutely insane. Started with a few patches on a rock I placed down there and now just ungodly amounts.

Truly been surprised at how fast it grew. Did not expect that much growth that fast. There is some pics in my build thread showing the first few weeks of growth, I haven't shared any after...it's a monster now

 

[RapidReefer]

A lot of people report success with ordinary light bulbs with a grow spectrum. You piece together your own hardware and try to seal it up. Likely less than 20 bucks and your time.

60 watt or 9 watt?

 

[Beau_B]

I have a Amazon "50w" COB UFO style light that keeps a 10" cube worth of chaeto/ulva/calerpa full and growing. It was under $20 a year ago. Zero complaints.

Edit: like this...
Amazon LED

 

[Newbereef46]

Just got a couple of these it's got red and blue all a plant needs only £10 all them big names can jog on not sure about you lot but I ain't got £100 to sit in a cabinet

 

[iambenfields]

I could power Los Angeles for a month with all the algae I grow in my sump and I have the cheapest gnarliest amazon LED bulb. I’m sure I could get spendier on some light to impress other reefers but I can’t imagine why I would.

 

[jda]

What size?

6500k GE T5s are great at growing algae, but they come in 18" at the smallest. For smaller, clip on light with a CFL (or LED) daylight bulb always grown chaeto for me as fast as I want it to.

IMO, lighting is the easiest thing about growing macro and chaeto... if the tank will grow it well, then any light will do.

 

[Nathan Milender]

60 watt or 9 watt?

I don't usually see it specified. But if you get a 'grow light' as a specialty bulb at a hardware store they seem to grow algae. Since they are generally led probably in 5-15 watt range. The gist of it is, it does not take much to grow algae. Performance might be lower then a fancy high output aquarium setup, but likely enough to take in nutrients. People use these to grow vegetables and other things so they are adequate. Main problem I see would be the bulkiness of them.

You could also check amazon for a cheap led grow light, would be flat and as long as the spectrum is right would likely be just fine for a fuge. These can be really cheap, but more than a bulb setup.