Lighting for a sump???

[Qman]

I have the overflow, I have a used 20 gallons tank with plan to modify it to add the baffles, but now remains the lighting to choose...

What will be good for a sump and how much watts would be needed for a 20 gallons sump? Should I build a DIY hood using a kit from AJ or buy some readily available fixture (like this JBJ one (http://www.jbjlighting.com/sys_clamp_on.html) )? Any suggestion?

BTW: the sump will be viewable, it will be right underneath the main tank sitting on the metal stand lower bars.

Tx,

[afss]

If you are just using the sump as a sump then no lighting is required
I assume you are going to use the sump as a refugium. If this is the case then you don't need much light. I would say something in the neighborhood of 20 watts or so.. of course more is probably better:D

You will also have to decide if you want to run the lighting on the same cycle as the tank, on reverse cycle, or on 24 hour cycle

The advantage to running reverse cycle is that you (supposedly) get a more stable system.... less ph swings etc at night.

The advantage to running 24/7 is that you are less likely to have your macros go asexual and basically releasing nutrients back into the water (the opposite idea of growing them).

If you are setting up a refugium then let me know and i can give you some macros and pods and worms etc. Dman, coralmorphian, aj and others have stuff from my tank with no problems that i know of. Any way if you want some get in touch with me and what i have to spare is yours for the taking

Scott

[afss]

sorry just realized you are in Quebec. If you want I can send some to you. No charge for the stuff. You pay the shipping (because of previous problems) upfront. My postal code is L2S 1S7 so you can check the price out if you are interested and the package would be under 5 lbs.

I do not gaurantee that the shipment will arive alive.

Scott

[Qman]

Sorry, I should have mentioned it! It will be a sump/refugium combo! :D

Thanks Scott for the information and the offer! ...BTW... I bought the 20 gallons tank this week end to build the sump/refugium but it was immediately hijacked by my girl friend so she could "save" her pumpkinseed (sun fish) ... the Tinfoil’s were harassing it (more like playing with it! :boxing: ). So she installed her fish in it... and I lost my sump tank temporarily :( until I get a larger FW tank in a few weeks that will re-unite the Tinfoil’s and the sunfish ;). I’ll buy another 20 gallons.

The more I read on the lighting cycle the more it confuses me. I'll try the 24 hours period so I do not have to prune the caulerpas while they are going sexual to get rid of the captured nutrients....I'll have to experiment and see what the "experts" say...

And again Scott, I'll take your offer! PM to you.

[afss]

No matter what method you chose for lighting you will still have to remove some calurpa everyonow and then to make room for new growth

Scott