Questions on cfl n reflector

[natureAddict]

Hi folks I got some questions on cfl n reflectors. Hope to learn
from your experiences. I'm cosidering adding this cfl to my existing
screen cus at this time of the year there is not much sun.

Q. Would a cfl 15w 2700 k be sufficient, or must it be a 23w 2,700k?
Cus I have the latter in another tank n it seems like blinding bright.
N it burned a hole in the algae of my existing screen too, though its
somewhat recovering now.

Q. My current screen is 18inch across x 12 inch height ,1 sided sun
powered, how many bulbs would suffice? Wattage?

Q. Reflector size n depth please ? Is the depth of the reflector impt?

Thanks for your input

[SantaMonica]

Feeding?

[natureAddict]

About 1/4 cube of tuna , spirulina, pellets
daily.
The other tank 1/2 cube same stuff

[SantaMonica]

How much total feeding for each tank.

[natureAddict]

1/4 cube

and 1/2 cube for the other tank

Thanks

[SantaMonica]

With no sun, you'd need 6 watts for 1/2 cube, so a small CFL floodlight with built-in reflector will be fine.

[natureAddict]

With no sun, you'd need 6 watts for 1/2 cube, so a small CFL floodlight with built-in reflector will be fine.

Thanks SM

is there a link to your page on wattage. thanks

[SantaMonica]

Scrubbers are sized according to feeding. Nutrients "in" (feeding) must equal nutrients "out" (scrubber growth), no matter how many gallons or liters you have. So...

An example VERTICAL upflow or waterfall screen size is 3 X 4 inches = 12 square inches of screen (7.5 X 10 cm = 75 sq cm) with a total of 12 real watts (not equivalent) of fluorescent light for 18 hours a day. If all 12 watts are on one side, it is a 1-sided screen. If 6 watts are on each side, it is a 2-sided screen, but the total is still 12 watts for 18 hours a day. This screen size and wattage should be able to handle the following amounts of daily feeding:

1 frozen cube per day (2-sided screen), or
1/2 frozen cube per day (1-sided screen), or
10 pinches of flake food per day (2-sided screen), or
5 pinches of flake food per day (1-sided screen), or
10 square inches (60 sq cm) of nori per day (2-sided screen), or
5 square inches (30 sq cm) of nori per day (1-sided screen), or
0.1 dry ounce (2.8 grams) of pellet food per day (2-sided screen), or
0.05 dry ounce (1.4 grams) of pellet food per day (1-sided screen)

High-wattage technique: Double the wattage, and cut the hours in half (to 9 per day). This will get brown screens to grow green much faster. Thus the example above would be 12 watts on each side, for a total of 24 watts, but for only 9 hours per day. If growth starts to turn YELLOW, then increase the flow, or add iron, or reduce the number of hours. And since the bulbs are operating for 9 hours instead of 18, they will last 6 months instead of 3 months.

HORIZONTAL screens: Multiply the screen size by 4, and the wattage by 1 1/2. Flow is 24 hours, and is at least 35 gph per inch of width of screen [60 lph per cm], EVEN IF one sided or horizontal.

LEDs: Use half the wattage as above. 660nm (red) is best. You can mix in a little 450nm (blue) if you want.

Very rough screen made of roughed-up-like-a-cactus plastic canvas.

Clean algae off of the screen:

Every 7 to 21 days, or
When it's black, or
When it fills up, or
When algae lets go, or
When nutrients start to rise

[natureAddict]

Thanks SM
Cheers to a great Educator n sharing ur wisdom