Power compact lights?

[Sir Alex]

I just got a used tank and it came with 3' 94 (or 96) watt power compact lights (bulbs not included) for the sump. The guy said this would be enough for macro algae but I don't know much about power compacts. It's 3' so there's a lot of light being wasted since I only need the light in a small part of the sump. Should I try and get bulbs or just get a metal halide light at Lowe's or something?

 

[Bifferwine]

For algae you don't need much light at all. You don't even need a metal halide. For my fuge, I use a regular 23 watt squiggly CFL bulb. The light it came with will be more than sufficient for algae, but you can definitely use something much less powerful and smaller if you want.

 

[Sir Alex]

So it would save power not using the power compacts?

 

[Bifferwine]

Yes, definitely. You don't need to have nearly that much light for a refugium.