Refugium Light Suggestions / Questions

[Patrick Cox]

I am getting ready to install a refugium on my 100G mostly SPS aquarium. This will be my first refugium. It's just over 20 gallons. I am trying to fight back against algae problems in my display.

My question is around lighting the refugium. What light fixture would you recommend for a 20 gallon refugium. Dimensions are 19"x14" footprint and then the hight is 18".

And then I think I should be running the refugium lights opposite of my display lights, is that correct?

Thanks!

 

[mfinn]

I used Home Depot clamp-on fixtures and 5k led spot lights for years. ( used regular spot bulbs before led bulbs came out) Had really good growth, but got tired of the rusty clamp on fixtures.
Switched to a AI Fuge led light a few months back. Seems to be doing pretty good.
I do run a reverse schedule.

 

[legionofdoon]

I have the Zetlight E200 which is the big brother of the Neptune Gro and I like it a lot. The Neptune Gro is smaller ( it's the E200s) but should have the same spectrum. I like it because there are no hot spots.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I used Home Depot clamp-on fixtures and 5k led spot lights for years. ( used regular spot bulbs before led bulbs came out) Had really good growth, but got tired of the rusty clamp on fixtures.
Switched to a AI Fuge led light a few months back. Seems to be doing pretty good.
I do run a reverse schedule.

I still use the cheap clamp lights... They do rust after several years but at $10 a piece, I'm still way ahead ;)

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

I had a CF GRO light but I didn’t and don’t like the bright pink look fuge lights give off…. I opted for the kessil FW planted light over their refugium light. The pink made my house look like a strip club past 11pm and it really washes out the macros. I wanted to make a “display fuge” after as much work as I put into building it! The kessil is tunable, shimmers, and looks great. In my experience it grows macro faster than I can take it out

here’s some pics pre and post harvest, I’m pretty dang satisfied!

/////

 

[outhouse]

Ive tried every cheap light in the book, most barely worked for me. If I ever do it again, im getting a real lights like the guy above. buy a used led fixture from a tank in the used section, and dont buy cheap lights. Ive tried every option under 50. its junk

 

[HeyLookItsCaps]

Ive tried every cheap light in the book, most barely worked for me. If I ever do it again, im getting a real lights like the guy above. buy a used led fixture from a tank in the used section, and dont buy cheap lights. Ive tried every option under 50. its junk

That’s exactly what I did actually ha, just trolled fb/OfferUp etc for a kessil 160 fresh water. Boom 100 bucks and I was rollin

 

[mfinn]

I still use the cheap clamp lights... They do rust after several years but at $10 a piece, I'm still way ahead ;)

No doubt they work great. I used them for a couple decades. I just got tired of the rust and corrosion in my sump area. Time will tell if these new fixtures are worth the price.
So far they are. A added bonus, the directed light of the led fixture is keeping the light mostly straight down and I'm not getting the algae growth on my skimmer.