Black plastic flower pot, reef safe?

cracker

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The light from the refugium is lighting the skimmer causing algae to grow in the body & neck.
I want to cut the bottom out of a flower pot & use it as a light blocking collar. OK ,OK I admit to being low dollar whenever possible ! Any OP's ??
 

mcarroll

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Should be fine.

Can you fix the light (or replace it) so that it's only lighting the refugium? Something else to consider. :)

What light do you have down there?
 
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Thanks Ya'll, I thought I'd get a bunch of laughs ! The light is just a clamp on reflector with a 56k flood bulb. I could swap the ref & return sections but that would require a change plumbing etc . the skimmer & return sections are next to each other It's not a direct light on the skimmer Just looking for a low dollar simple fix. If it doesn't work, I'll come up with something else. This is my experimental 75 coral tank so not concerned with looks & such. I'll find a pic for You. You can see the algae crud build up on the one side.
HPIM8549.JPG
 

mcarroll

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That really looks like it wants to dive in!! :eek::eek::eek:

If you can find a narrow spotlight to swap for that flood, that would help a little.

Switching to a little DIY GU10 fixture might be the way to go, however. GU10's typically come with 30º lenses and they're small so easy to mount.

Here's all you'd need to do:
  • Screw a little 1x2 up to your stand over the fuge, or suspend it down from there.
  • Screw in a row of GU10 sockets on 2" centers.
  • Install a line of 3 watt warm-white GU10 bulbs.
  • 18" should allow for about 9 bulbs.
  • The sockets just get wired to normal AC power.
  • Total cost, around $30.

If you can get the lights mounted so they're at about 12" from the water, they'll cover around 12" while spilling almost zero light whatsoever outside of that.
 
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It's actually pretty secure. I do have some red led light strips I had on an ATS. They would work very well. I 'm looking for the "easy" way out ! :rolleyes:
 

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I have exactly the same problem on both my tanks.
I just use a paper towel every few months to wipe out the inside and maybe once per year do a vinegar soak to get the coralline algae out.
A friend showed me his solution and it was some thin black plastic that he wrapped around the base of the skimmer.
 
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