Bright Light

[tthnow]

Where do you place you're reef tank light ? I am afraid it give the neighbor the wrong idea. I am planning on placing the light at least 2-3 feet up for my upcoming tank. I am worried about the intensity of the light.

 

[DesigDiver]

depends on what kind of lighting...Flourescents or halides.Flourescents can be placed pretty close to the water surface since they dont emit much heat.I wouldn't put halides any closer than 7inches..2 to 3 feet would just be a waste of electricity and bulb life IMO..

 

[tthnow]

I need the spread. I think too close would a waste honestly. I do not want the light to emit so brightly that my neighbors think that I am doing something illegal. I am at Tru Vu website and planning on ordering a 300 Gal 96x30x24.

 

[ACBlinky]

Who cares what the neighbors think? Our 2x400W halides (10" above the surface) light up the entire living room, it's funny to look at our building after dark -- there's NO mistaking which apartment is ours!

Some folks with big tanks and/or intense lights do get visits from landlords or even the police, just to make sure they're not up to anything funny, but it's rare.

 

[seapug]

Tell your neighbors to mind their own business....unless you are using the light spillover to grow weed. In that case, get some blinds.

Why do you want to keep the lights so high? Unless you are using 400W bulbs with huge lumenarc reflectors you can and will probably want to keep them much closer.

 

[nikon187]

that and keeping them higher will still light up your entire room ( and possibly outside)

 

[fivesmallworlds]

The cops full on raided a member of my local reef club! Not because of the lights so much as they had a cable repair man come out and the cable guy reported to the police that when he entered the home he was hit with a "strong chemical odor." The guy thought he stumbled across a meth lab.

Without taking the time to investigate it properly they just busted in on the guy and his wife and scared them half to death pointing their machine guns at them and telling them to get on the floor.

The homeowner had been cleaning some reef equipment with vinegar in a bathroom. That's what the repair man smelled...

Lesson here... Cops may barge in, but as long as all you're running is a reef tank and not a meth lab you'll be alright!

 

[crvz]

yeah, I wouldnt use a worry of what others think as the rationale to determine where the tank lights are. You'll want them closer than 2-3 feet, that's for sure. more than 12 inches would be a waste of light if you're trying to grow coral, in my experience. Even if you're looking for spread, you'll loose all your intensity by placing them so far above the tank.