lighting for a sump refuge?

[Undertheradar]

Hi there im looking at setting up a refugeium in my sump and have spent hours trawling though past threads about algea scrubbers, denitrafiers and refugeiums. it seems on most of the pictures the lighting is t5 lights with more than likely palnt specturum tubes. The question is is any one using standard lights and still getting the desired effect of reduced nitrate levels?
I understand that improved light will give improved results but...

Normally i would buy the specific equipment required but for the first time on my 210 im going to need to scrimp. It seems pothos plants seem to be the most common. Peoples advice using this method and there trial error experience etc would be greatly experienced thanks

 

[Dark SSide]

I used a cheap clamp on light with a 23w cfl spotlight bulb and had great growth on my algae scrubber. I have a new tank, stand, and sump no that doesn't allow me to have a scrubber anymore. I now use that light to grow duck weed and jungle val in my sump and it works great.

 

[Undertheradar]

dark sside what do you mean by a cfl? how is duck weed etc compared to the algea scrubber? looking at all the options plants in sump seem to be the easiest .also my under tank area is pretty full with two addtional canisters a couple of bubbblers uv sump pipe work etc. I have two 18 w standard flo tubes just for task light in place hoping to use them. what drop in No3 are you seeing?

this is a boring post as there is nothing monster about but there must be a few more people with refugs and lighting with different adjustments plants which work better with lower light etc
thanks bud