Chaeto growth rate

StrategicReef · #1 12/23/2007, 02:28 AM

I am using a PAR type bulb over the chaeto now.
I was considering upgrading to Light of America flood light, the color temp is more like 65k and quite intense, so the chaeto will grow faster. Do you think growing faster is better so that it absorbs more nutrient out?

Also I have a question about removing some chaeto when it gets big enough, How much to remove? We don't want to remove too much and leave with just a little ball because the nutrient export ability will be hindered. And if I keep on growing the chaeto would the other algae in the tank diminish quite a bit?

demonsp · #2 12/23/2007, 08:27 AM

This Bulb. http://www.bulbamerica.com/Compact-F...ategory_id=495

And a clip on shade.Mine is same as 75 whatt and i leave on 24/7 and grows like crazy.

Mike O'Brien · #3 12/23/2007, 01:26 PM

I just replaced my LOA 65 watt light for two 16 watt cf's in floodlight housings. The two are much brighter than the LOA fixture, and half the watts. I've yet to hear anybody say their algae didn't grow fast with these small bulbs.

VaderWS6 · #4 12/23/2007, 01:42 PM

My chaeto hardly grows at all. I have a 32 watt 6500k pc over it, but there is almost no algae at all in my main tank. Maybe not enough nutrients for it?

Mike O'Brien · #5 12/23/2007, 01:45 PM

Try one, they are cheap.

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

Spuds725 · #6 12/23/2007, 02:18 PM

I use the LOA flood and am very happy with it..

It is kind of pricey though (other then the people that found them for $10 at Costco... about $45 at home depot...

Regarding using spiral CF bulbs... if you do use them, get the "daylight" ones-- these will have light in the 6000 to 6700K range alot better for plant life-- I got a 3 pack at Menards of spiral bulbs for about $8 for the 100W equivalent ones-- I use them in lights around the house... the Melev bulb works ok is about 5200K (I've used this before too)-- works ok, just not as good a the LOA floodlight in my experience-- the Melev bulb is hardly cheap at about $10 each... Not available in stores

... at least in that color at least when I looked for them. You need more then one for a decent sized fuge-- ok for a smaller one.

Regarding the trimming.... I usually let the chaeto mostly fill the fuge-- it will slow down in growth as it runs out of room to grow and trim about 1/3 of it off at a time

sjm817 · #7 12/23/2007, 02:29 PM

I use the LOA flood light which is much more powerful than the spiral ones. My chaeto was growing great for 1 year, but has been dying off lately and I have HA and cyano growing the in fuge for the first time. I replaced the bulb, and wow is it a lot brighter! You kind of forget about these things. Hopefully, the chaeto will start growing well again.

Mike O'Brien · #8 12/23/2007, 02:29 PM

The ones I got at HD were $7. They had a large selection . One thing I like about them is they don't get hot. The LOA is very hot. And they is quite cheap compared to the LOA.

sjm817 · #9 12/23/2007, 02:42 PM

The LOA gets VERY hot. I replaced that bulb and yow! But realize the LOA has like 10X the output of a spiral screw in bulb. I've used both. The small bulbs are ok for a small fuge. For a larger fuge, you need something else.

Spuds725 · #10 12/23/2007, 03:55 PM

SJM... I'm pretty sure you are one of the people that turned me on to the LOA light... how long did you run your bulb before you had a decrease in it's effectiveness??? Can you guestimate the life in hours????

I had hair algae (growing mainly on the walls of the fuge) and still had great chaeto growth... I am a fan of hair algae as it is a great pod breeding ground...

I plan on turning my 72 gallon into a fuge... I'll do a side by side (half and half) on the LOA and the melev bulb to see the difference...

Mike O'Brien · #11 12/23/2007, 04:15 PM

I've been using the LOA for 5 years. I change the bulb about once a year. I've had the small ones for less than a week. Time will tell the difference.

sjm817 · #12 12/23/2007, 04:23 PM

I started out with the light 24/7, but then switched to opposite cycle from display after a few months which is 14 hr/day. Its hard to say when it started tapering off.

You cant compare the LOA to that Melev bulb (BTW, the pic of the TCP bulb on that site is one that I gave him of my bulb). You are comparing an 85W (or so) equivalent incandescent to a 500w equiv. The LOA is WAY brighter. The CF spots are good for a ~ 12" x 12" fuge. My fuge is 36", I had 3 of them. The LOA blows them away.

Spuds725 · #13 12/23/2007, 04:50 PM

I know you can't compare them, but I'm going to... if people will continue to recommend it over the LOA light, I will have to show the difference.

I've run my LOA about 15 months total-- 18 hours a day for first 7 months, back to 12 hours a day the next 8 months-- so roughly 6120 hours.... probably time to change it out...

I ran mine over a 30" long 29 gallon fuge--

Mike O'Brien · #14 12/23/2007, 04:56 PM

That's how I feel. The ratings of the bulbs are not in question, it's the growth of the algae. Mine never grew good with them, and I know a few people that switched from the LOA and had better growth. My fuge is half of a 55 gallon tank, so I'm using two.

StrategicReef · #15 12/23/2007, 05:43 PM

I have bought a few boxes of these LOA lights as I use them in the backyard and garage. They would be intense at close range.. almost looked like a 150W MH if you put your hand right up to it.

How are you guys wiring the LOA floodlight to a plug, do you go make the connection in a electrical box?

They should last very long, they are meant to be used outside dawn to dusk. But of course the color temperature might shift over time.

sjm817 · #16 12/23/2007, 06:14 PM

I used a screw in CF over the fuge when I had my 90. It worked OK. Then with the 180, I had 3 of them over the 30G fuge. The growth was OK. The 3 bulb setup was kind of a pain. I switched to the LOA just for simplicity and the chaeto started growing like mad. I was surprised at how much of difference it made.

I wired an electrical cord to it.

Runfrumu · #17 12/23/2007, 07:03 PM

Mine didnt grow at all until I killed off my cyano. It grows like crazy now. Im using a sylvania 65watt spot grow bulb, made just for plants. I was using the 50 watt one, which is about the size of a regular bulb. The 65 is about the size of a regular outdoor flood light. Im thinking of putting in the 120 watt, which will completely fill the lamp Im using.

The 50 was bright, but nowhere near what the 65 is. Im sure the 120 will be super bright.

sjm817 · #18 12/23/2007, 07:14 PM

My complaint about the LOA is the bulb gets super hot in that small unventilated fixture. I would like to get a cheap 2 bulb 36" T5 setup. If I see something cheap enough, maybe I will.

Spuds725 · #19 12/23/2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StrategicReef
I have bought a few boxes of these LOA lights as I use them in the backyard and garage. They would be intense at close range.. almost looked like a 150W MH if you put your hand right up to it.

How are you guys wiring the LOA floodlight to a plug, do you go make the connection in a electrical box?

They should last very long, they are meant to be used outside dawn to dusk. But of course the color temperature might shift over time.

I made my connections in a box, then made up a plug from this box to go to my light timer-- I just taped over the photo-eye on it.

Here is another way to do it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efFUNAPA9rE

StrategicReef · #20 12/23/2007, 09:03 PM

Just watched the video but I would add some kind of thing to choke the wire from inside so you can't accidently pull out the live wire.. for safety and some what to code.. Sometimes a zip tie will work very well. Or maybe drill guide holes and zip tie the wire to the back of the fixture.

As for the heat issue it should be very easy to cut some vents or drill some holes, these lights weren't supposed to be pointing down as the heat dissipation is worse in this position.

StrategicReef · #21 12/25/2007, 06:25 AM

Hey does anyone have the LOA floodlight flat down on a piece of glass over the refugium, it seems to make that piece of glass very hot and I was wondering if the plastic lens itself might melt.

Mike O'Brien · #22 12/25/2007, 07:42 AM

I use one on a 10 gallon tank with an acrylic tank cover. I removed the lens and drilled holes in the side of the fixture for vents. It's about an inch off of the acrylic. It doesn't melt it.

oct2274 · #23 12/25/2007, 11:59 AM

my tips on chaeto growth

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1274588

RONCGIZMO · #24 12/25/2007, 12:16 PM

Funny you sould ask, I just changed my bulb about 10 days ago...

I had a regular 5200k 23w CF on my fuge for months I've tried having it on at night only and also ran it 24/7 and had very poor growth.

I was in Home Depot about two weeks ago and they had a 16w CF flood light (6500k) now my cheato is 2 times the size!

This bulb was only 7~8 bucks well worth the price, if it went up to $20 tomorrow I would still buy it.

they had 3 types, the package was color coded, Green 3300k, Red 5200k and blue 6500k. I think it come in 23w as well but it was not in stock at my Home Depot.

Mike O'Brien · #25 12/25/2007, 01:05 PM

Sounds like what I got too. Does it say N:Vision on the side of the bulb?