So I got this crazy idea to set up a frag tank in what i think may be an unusual spot. I dont run chaeto in my refugium, do my thoughts were to try a setup in there. I have the Finnex fugeray planted plus light in that section which is just under 5 gallons. I went with this led setup because it has the whites, blues, and reds in it. And running at 11 inches of depth, it should be adequate lighting. Ive had people tell me the fuge is the dirtiest part of a tank but i am wondering why that is. The fuge i would think is clean since i have it run through a sock, protein scrubber, uv sterilizer, and bubble trap before it goes into the refugium compartment. And a nano tank power head should assist in the already 400gph flow rate that is already running through the fuge. Has anyone tried this before or have insight to something i may have missed? I am mainly doing mushrooms, ricordia, and zoas.
There are quite a few people who have a frag rack setup in their sump. It’s a great space saving idea IMO. That area tends to get dirty because the flow through there is laminar and things are able to settle on the bottom. Nothing to worry about though.
Thats why i was thinking of adding a tiny wavemaker or powerhead in there to help with a flow. The reviews on the fuge light i bought were all decent up to a 10 gallon tank. Couldnt find any reviews with corals growing under them but i figured it had the intensity and colors that corals like
You could add the wavemaker, it won’t hurt anything. Just get a small one. I don’t know that light.
I’m not sure about that light. They talk about red wavelengths, but no mention of the critical ones down in the blue region.
I see the specs on the reds and the whites being 7000k. I sent them an email asking about the blue actinics and if they had info on them.
Get the spectral distribution from them if you can.
Contacted them and they said they are 460nm. Is that sufficient enough lighting?
That’s not gonna cut it as an answer. Haha
What level do you recommend for blues?
Try looking at some PAR38 bulbs for a single frag rack in a sump they would be perfect.
http://coralcompulsion.com/led-36w-20k-Full
http://www.ocreef.com/ocreef_par38_14k_led_aquarium_lamp?category_id=5084
http://www.ledpacific.com/cree-reef-blue-27w-led-aquarium-bulb-par38-es-27-or-es26-screw-fitting/
Those PARS look pretty good. Just remember , the two types of chlorophyl A and B in both corals and aquatic plants make best use of light at peaks of 420, 454, 642 and 662 nano meters, two blue peaks in the 400’s and two red peaks in the 600’s. the efficiency just falls off on a curve above and below these peaks. The carotenoids I believe are mostly for color and sunburn screening. corals from waters deeper than 20 feet mostly use the blues, as the reds are rapidly filtered out first by the salt water, on the reef. blue goes much deeper. thats why the ocean looks blue not red.
