light for large sump

[president89]

Hey Guys,

I just picked up a 100 g rubbermaid stock tanks. I want to setup a large growout/breeding system for clownfish. I am going to make one large sump and link several tanks together put a skimmer, heater, and live rock in the large rubbermaid bin. The height of the sump is 3 feet. Maybe a little taller. What type of lighting fixture should I use for the live rock. I have two lighting fixtures that are 48" long and 4x65 watts. I was hoping to not have to run so much lighting for live rock alone. What do you guys use? What are the requirements for live rock lighting.

[pjf]

The three most common natural nitrate reduction (NNR) refugiums are:

(1) Macroalgae or floating chaetomorpha refugia that requires light for algal growth
(2) Deep Sand Bed (DSB) refugia that requires no lighting
(3) Cryptic Zone refugia that employs live rock, sponges and sea squirts and that requires no lighting. (http://www.dynamicecomorphology.com/, http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tyreecmatv1.htm, http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=544)

Perhaps others can chime in?

[TropTrea]

(1) Macroalgea I have basicly a 40 gallon tub where I'm keeping cheato. it is lighted by a 14 watt compact florescent daylight bulb 16 hours per day. The cheato is growing like crazey in there.

(2) DSB I'll agree that no lighting is required here but on the other end of the spectrum some light is not harmfull unless it so much that you start getting surface algea growths.

(3) Live rock. Well this depends a lot on if and what you want growing on the live rock. Lighting here is not harmful again and the critters that do not like a lot of rock will grow on the underside of the rock. Big thing here is make sure the rock has loads of spaces between them and some water flow throughout..

Dennis

[president89]

that sounds great to me. I may eventually setup a seperate fuge with some chaeto but that would be a much less powerful light. thanks for the input.