refugium h2o flow

[dmbnpj]

I used this bulb, http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html but I have had no growth yet. I also have a powerhead in my refugium that is fairly strong.It blows all the chaeto into a corner. Is too much flow going to restrict the growth of the macro?

Thanks for any help

[Erik765]

Hey!
Uh, take that pump out of there man. I had a refugium and the only flow I had was the in and out of it which was set at about... I don't know, maybe 2-3 gal. / min. That's the whole point of a refugium. Its a refuge. You don't want it stagnant but reduce your flow and it'll serve it's purpose. i.e. no powerheads!
E

[Spuds725]

Not necessarilly..

I urge you to read this thread in the expert section....

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=462212

A fuge (growing chaeto) does need adequate circulation-- from what I understand, a spray bar submerged and pointed slightly above horizontal will give you a slow tumbling motion for your chaeto--

How you set it up might depend on how your sump is designed.

[dmbnpj]

Has anyone had any luck with this light:
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html
Ive had my fuge up for over a month now and have had no growth of cheato.

[Spuds725]

Most people have had good luck with it... I didn't, but I think it was a lack of movement of my chaeto--- I'm setting up a new tank still and don't have a fuge at the moment-- but will do whatever it takes to get some tumbling in the fuge as it seems to be important for chaeto to grow... my grape caulerpa grew awesome under that bulb.

If you read the thread(s) on that bulb... the majority of people rave over it---

[dmbnpj]

how can you get the chaeto to tumble without pushing it to one corner?

[reefer1187]

does this some tumbling affect apply to caulepra also? cause i keep a rock ontop of mine to keep it from moving everywhere

[melev]

Anthony Calfo recommends putting a small shelf just under the baffle where the water enters the refugium (if your sump is set up that way). This horizontal shelf (3" wide, maybe 1" submerged) creates a tumbling effect in the water, and cheatomorpha can tumble.

In all honesty, I've had it set up to tumble and set up to just stay stationary and it grew both ways. I believe the idea of tumbling is to light them macro on all sides to increase growth. However, the stationary macro looks just as green when I pull it out and look at the shaded section, so I don't know that it makes much difference.

Caulerpa doesn't tumble, it grows outwards and roots to anything it can touch.

If you aren't getting any growth, perhaps the light is too far away from the macro. Or you have the wrong bulb. Or you have lower nutrients than you thought.

I recommmend you keep the bulb very close to the water, but not so close that it can get submerged when the return pump is off and the refugium fills up with more water (if this happens at all in your system). The bulb should not look yellow. If it is, you have the 2700K bulb rather than the 5100K bulb. Both work, but the 5100K works better. Your macro algae should be right beneath the bulb, so it can get well lit. Remember, this is a 19w bulb with an output of 75w. So distance can be a factor if you aren't seeing any growth.

[dmbnpj]

I believe I have the correct bulb. I used the one in the link I have put up in this thread. It doesnt tell me whether 5100k or 2700k but it is the same from the link to your site. Home Depot actually stocks the item now. I keep the bulb right above the chaeto so I also dont think distance is a factor in my situation. I have 2 nitrate test kits and both are giving me a high reading. The salifert test kit is somewhere between 50-100. The other test kit I have is "Mr. Fish-little emblem on the viles and bottles?", That test kit turns RED when low nitrates are indicated by yellow. I am having the worst problem with cyano even though my flow seems to be ok in my tank as well as my refugium. Im still doing something wrong.

[melev]

Home Depot does not sell the right bulb in the store. It must be special ordered. If you look at my page again, I've included both bulbs now so you can see the difference in color. The 2700K bulb is yellowish.

You can reduce nitrates with larger water changes, very quickly. Every time you do a 50% water change, you'll cut your nitrates in half.

Cyano is the result of nutrients and low flow. Increasing the flow and siphoning out what you can will help with that, but if you still can't beat it, Chemi-Clean will take care of it in 48 hours.

[dmbnpj]

SOB, there goes another wasted $10.

What is the difference between these? Reflector 16 and Reflector 19? :

1P381651 PAR38 Reflector 16 Watt / 5100K $10.76 Manufacturer: TCP
4.75 Diameter
Electronic Ballast NPF
120 Volts
Wattage: 16 Watt
75 Watt Equivalent
Medium Base
750 Initial Lumens
Color Temperature: 5100K
8,000 Hour Life

Energy Star Listed
Qty: 1




1P381951 PAR38 Reflector 19 Watt / 5100K $11.66 Manufacturer: TCP
4.75 Diameter
Electronic Ballast NPF
120 Volts
Wattage: 19 Watt
85 Watt Equivalent
Medium Base
950 Initial Lumens
Color Temperature: 5100K
8,000 Hour Life

Energy Star Listed
Qty: 1

[dmbnpj]

melev, do you know the difference b/w those 2? I plan on ordering from: www.lightbulbsdirect.com Shipping is about $8 from that site. Will Home Depot only charge the $10.76 or close to that if I special order?

[melev]

As far as I know, Home Depot will special order the bulb as explained on my page, and you may even get it shipped to your door for free.

The difference between the two links (to buy it online) is wattage output. The kelvin is the same.

Don't feel bad about the $10. I've used that one in the first place, and also used them for the outside floodlights. It isn't a total waste. There is just a better bulb out there.

[dmbnpj]

duhh, I'm blind....good thing I have smart people on here for me. How did I miss that?

Thanks yet again, going to The Home Depot tomorrow. How long did it take for yours to come in?

[melev]

Some have gotten theirs pretty quickly. Our club just did the online purchase, via a Group Buy. We ordered several cases of them.

[dmbnpj]

With the online purchase....how many bulbs/how much was shipping? Im thinking of asking my group around North Carolina if they are interested as well.

[melev]

Lightbulbs are light, so shipping won't be bad. I didn't organize the buy, but I do remember paying $10 per bulb shipped.

[dmbnpj]

Thanks again. I will be changing bulbs to that one whether it be by web or Home Depot.

[dmbnpj]

From the site below the choice is between the 16 watt and the 19 watt, both 5100K. Which is better? I am not an electrician/botanist, sorry! Thanks for the help.


http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

[Spuds725]

I'd go with the 19watt... should be alittle brighter... should be fine with either.

here is the one I bought-- I bought 4 of them... can't remember what the final cost was-- seem to remember it being about $45 with shipping.... I believe you needed a $30 minimum or something-- I have enough for a few years now.

https://www.1000bulbs.com/product.php?product=2778

[dmbnpj]

www.lightbulbsdirect.com

Have any clue if yours is better than the one from that site? Looks like the one from that site will have a blueish hue, yours said whiteish hue.

[Spuds725]

Of course I don't have a clue.... :rollface:

Where does it say blueish??? I looked up the 5100k 19W--

http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/PROD/Reflectors/1P381951

[dmbnpj]

It doesnt say....its just from melevs site.
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

[Spuds725]

I didn't read it on that page??? Are you looking at the side by side pics of the 2700K and the 5100K (his growing test)--- it might just appear a little bluish because the 2700K looks so yellow-- may have affected how the pic came out.

http://melevsreef.com/pics/1104/test_done.jpg

Mine looks pretty white-- it is a hair blue when it comes on--and the bulb warms up.... I'd get the one Marc (melev) linked to if you think there might be a difference...

If I remember correclty, I think I have the exact same bulb in the pic at the bottom of the page... TCP... that package looks very familiar to me--
http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/5100k_bulb.jpg

[dmbnpj]

yah thats the blueish hue im looking at...the difference b/w the 2700 and 5100 on his site

Im placing the order....i think its gonna be about $20 shipped to me (just one bulb).

[Spuds725]

I just looked at both sites, both sell the same bulb-- TCP brand.. should be identical.

I think I bought 4 just to get my price down-- figure I'll use them eventually, bought them 6 months ago.

[melev]

I agree. Buying a few at a time is really the smarter move. If you have any local hobbyists in your area, you can share the cost of shipping.