Refugium Lighting Cycle

[Patriot76]

I am looking for some advice about the lighting cycle for my refugium. I have a 55g refugium that is soon to contain a live sand bed, some live rock (about 50lbs) and some macro-algae. i have a 4x65w lighting fixture on two seperate ballasts. 2 bulbs are atinics, the others two are 50/50. i have heard some people suggest 24 hr lighting for a refugium, just wanted to see what you guys suggest.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[panmanmatt]

I prefer a reverse lighting for the fuge. Run them when your tank lights are off, this allows the macro algaes a chance to "breathe" and release O2. The reverse lighting will also help you keep a more stable PH in the tank.

 

[BobCReef]

I have tried both 24 hr lighting and lighting opposite the tank cycle, didn't see any difference either way

 

[panmanmatt]

I have tried both 24 hr lighting and lighting opposite the tank cycle, didn't see any difference either way

The only real difference is in $. Running a 24 hour cycle uses more electricity and you have to replace the bulbs more often.

 

[MadReefer]

I use to stagger it but now I leave it 24/7. As mentioned before didn't see a big difference.

 

[Carlo]

If your nutrients levels test high or you have obvious algae growing then go for 24/7 until you get the levels down. Then go for the opposite light schedule. This will "focus" more photosynthesis in the refugium during the time the main lights are off keeping the pH levels a bit higher.

Obviously the size of the refugium compared to the tank volume and the amount of nutrients you actually have in the tank as well as the lighting used (6.5K ideal) will have the biggest impact.

Carlo

 

[JRWOHLER]

I think for fuge 6.5K-6.8K range is best .... and reverse light cycle for me.
Perhaps there is not much differce then 24/7 but a) why pay for the extra 12H and b) if it is marginally better then 24/7 for PH then I don't see any reason positive to run it all the time.

 

[Patriot76]

ok this is my planned lighting cycle. keep in mind that my tank is located in the basement so there is no natural light to take into consideration.

Main Display
10:00AM-10:00PM 4x96w T5 Atinics
11:00AM-7:00PM 3x250w 10k MH's
10:00PM-10:00AM 24 Lunar LED's

Refugium
10:00PM-10:00AM 2x65w Atinic PC's & 2x65w 50/50 PC's

any suggestions?

 

[Carlo]

If you can control your lunar lights fine if not just leave them on all the time. Not much juice used by them.

The day cycle seems fine but you might find you don't need 12 and 8 hours and could get by easily with 10 and 6 hours. Crunch the number to see what the electric bill cost with your different hours. Nothing wrong with your numbers per say but you might not need that much.

As for the refugium get rid or replace the actinics as they aren't needed at all for macro algae and get rid of the 50/50s and put straight bulbs in the 6.5 to 8K range. Actually just looking and seeing you have a 55g refugium this amount of light is overkill. If you already have the light fixture fine but don't go out and buy this fixture for macro. If your fixture will allow you to run one bank of (2 x 65w) then just go with this to save on the electric bill and go with something in the range above. If you can't find 6.5-8K then go no higher then 10K bulbs. Honestly I'd suggest not using that fixture on the 55g at all and maybe save it for a QT tank or two instead. U can get low watt clip on 6.5 bulbs that will probably do better for the macro growth and cost a lot less to use too.

Carlo