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Bulb for Cheato?


bues0022

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I have a clamp-on fixture in my sump for my cheato. I've always been fine growing cheato with a spiral CLF bulb, but my "stock" just ran out, and the bulb I tossed in for a replacement isn't cutting it. The cheato is dark green, but breaks easily into little pieces that are now littering my display.

 

So, what bulb to use for my cheato? I'd rather not spend a ton on a new fixture (some recommend high-end Kessils, but I'm not going to put down $300 to grow cheato). Another forum had someone recommend a $7 Home Depot bulb, but failed to say which one. I found these two last night which others recommended, thoughts?

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HPIPM70/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2KUZVNQ9LP7N9&psc=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N47QRHV/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3D0RI3DPRKVNK&psc=1

 

 

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I always had great luck with the 5000K range of bulbs. I got the tip from Melevs Reef and macro grew like crazy. I personally would use the Cree led 5000k bulbs. I run a DIY scrubber so I currently used leds because of the design otherwise that is what I would use.

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Is it also possible I don't feed enough to have nutrients available for the cheato to use? I feed about a dime sized piece of homemade frozen food per day. 4 fish and a pretty big CUC. I hardly have any algae anymore anywhere - in the tank or in the sump.

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What does your nitrate and phosphate test at? Iron is something else that is typically used fairly heavily. I used 5500-6500k CFLs for a couple of years with great results. I swapped those for a Kessil H80 that worked well and then later to a Kessil H160 that also works great. I've seen posts regarding the UFO grow lights working well for other people but I have zero hands on experience with them. 

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So, I have a 10 gallon sump, and about half is available for cheato. I only have about 12" head room above the water. Will this light be too powerful if it's not dimmable? I'm leaning towards the less powerful TaoTronics bulb for that reason: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0748D2SMB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2KUZVNQ9LP7N9&th=1 Or, do I just reduce photoperiod at night and call it good?

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200W. Really? And not dimmable? That's a lot of light. No wonder it grows stuff.

 

The listed wattage varies wildly depending on the source.

 

So, I have a 10 gallon sump, and about half is available for cheato. I only have about 12" head room above the water. Will this light be too powerful if it's not dimmable? I'm leaning towards the less powerful TaoTronics bulb for that reason: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0748D2SMB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2KUZVNQ9LP7N9&th=1 Or, do I just reduce photoperiod at night and call it good?

 

Those create an extreme hotspot and have almost no spread; my opinion (after running one under similar circumstances) is they're terrible for your application. With that said, the Kessil H80 will work quite well for your small refugium and used ones can be picked up pretty cheap. The UFO lights are also a much better choice than the one you linked; the PAR38 and derivatives aren't a good option for you. 

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Thanks for the tip! I looked more closely at the listing for the bulb. It appears as though if I had the bottom of the bulb 1.6 feet from the water surface, I would have a 1.5 foot diameter circle of “hot spot”. Using some simple trig, with the bottom of the bulb roughly 6” from the water, I’d have a “hot spot” roughly 5.5 inches in diameter. So yeah, too focused.

 

Would the UFO light be too intense at that close range and 200W? Looks like amazon has the same light (probably newer) at 150W but more expensive than the 200W eBay version.

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That looks like the same one I have. The spread is good, built in fan not much heat and the light spreads out. Mines about 22 inches from the water. Macros are found in shallows exposed to high intense light in the wild. The more light the more algae. I’d say you’re good. Cheap and macros love the red light. If anything you could always cut back amount of hours of exposure. I think I’m running mine 8 hrs alternate cycle as the display.

 

 

 

 

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Which one do you have? I’m finding out there’s more to growing cheato than just tossing a bulb on it and calling it a day.

ABI 12W Deep Red 660nm LED Bloom Booster Grow Light Bulb for Flowering and Spectrum Enhancement https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H2Y5U4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2bKUBbZGWGMSB

 

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  • 5 weeks later...

Sorry to hijack the thread. but what are everyone's thoughts on something like this or is anyone us9ng something similar? There is a 25 and 45w version available. Thanks58eac0544da1685ed1f1788aa437ee33.jpg

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Here's the fixture I ended up getting:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/142812898266

 

Price just went down a few bucks - I bought it for $28 shipped. For 300W (equivalent) power, this price can't be beat. I now grow more cheato in a week than I did in a month with a CFL spiral bulb. I'm trimming a mini basketball size chunk every week - that's impressive when I only have about 5 gallons water space for it to grow!

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