lighting for sump

[chwkreefer]

Originally Posted by martym

I just installed a sump I'm thinking of adding live rock to help out with filtration. What should i use for lighting? I was thinking because I'm not growing corals just algea, I would set up a lamp with a normal bulb and run it 24/7 . Any comments?

When I was growing macroalgae in my refugium what I found worked well was just a high wattage incandescent bulb(ie. . 100 - 150 watt and it wasn't a grow light). I did have a 24" grow light fluorescent as well, but as I increased the wattage of the incandescent so did the growth rate of the macroalgae. Fluorescents run cooler so if a little extra heat is an issue I would just try a couple of fluorescents.