2x250 MH, how high above water surface

[IsaaX]

This is my first time using 250 MH and I was wondering how high from the top of the tank do you have yours at? I have a 2x250w fixture hanged 9" above the top of the tank and I was still suprised on how much heat is being put into the water at that height. My tank is 24" high, can I raise the lights higher?

 

[IsaaX]

I forgot to mention that the fixture is DE/HQI

 

[Yinger]

issac, i got mine about 10 inches off the water

 

[IsaaX]

Ok, I'll try that. Hey have you spoken to REEFER714? I thought he was coming by tonight to pick up his sand.

Anyone else have theirs higher?

 

[818]

I have mine around 10 inches.

 

[Yinger]

I believe he's still installing plumbing for loc01 right now. Its been a pretty big project. haha

 

[IsaaX]

Wow, what a nice guy.

Well, I just measured the height. I could swear I measured the height correctly after I put the fixture up. Right now it's sitting at 8"

 

[IsaaX]

If you happen to speak to him, he's more than welcome to stop by afterwards since i'm pretty much up all night (usually till 3-4am)

 

[Yinger]

it should be fine. with the wavebox, it varies for me. my wave is about 1.5 inches.

oh wow.. haha, i'll let him know

 

[Yinger]

bryan saw my past and has been trying to IM me to tell me to call him. i think i'm through dealing with him.

 

[IsaaX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7924493#post7924493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Yinger
it should be fine. with the wavebox, it varies for me. my wave is about 1.5 inches.

oh wow.. haha, i'll let him know

I'm confused. I don;t have a wavebox?

I just finished raising the fixture to 10" and it made a huge difference in temp. It also might be because I turned my A/C on before I raised it lol.

Yeah he asked me to call him.

 

[energy_crisis]

Hey guys, you might be able to help me out with a lighting question that's similar.

I have a 34x22x22 tank and already have a 150/175 MH Ballast and I'll wire that up. But for a second MH should I go with another 150/175 or a 250?

It'll be mixed reef and won't mind having SPS only towards the upper half.

If I go with dual 150/175 how high do you guys recomend the bulbs beeing off the surface?

THANKS

 

[PsychoKnight]

Re: 2x250 MH, how high above water surface

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7924265#post7924265 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IsaaX
. . . I was still suprised on how much heat is being put into the water at that height.

Do you have a fan blowing into your sump? That could lower your temp significantly. I can even get it down slightly below room temperature through evap cooling.

I think you should deal with lighting and water temp as two separate issues. You don't want to compromise optimal lighting just because it warms the water too much. You spent good money on that light, you should make the most of it. Hopefully a strong, quiet fan (maybe even a clip-on) will cool down temps enough, otherwise, use environmental ac, or a chiller.

 

[IsaaX]

Yeah I have a chiller, so the temp isn't as much as an issue as the light heating my eurobracing.

 

[raskal311]

8" here

 

[Brewen]

7" to 8" here w/chiler and 4-4" fans in my hood.