Distance Between Lights and Water's Surface

[fijiblue]

Curious to see what everyone is using/doing. Please list bulb spectrum, wattage and type (DE or SE).

 

[Fsurocks99]

I keep mine around 6-8 inches off surface. I am running a 150w DE with 14k Phoniex bulb.

 

[PhilTheEel]

2-250 wat DE MH 10K Ushio bulbs with 2-110 watt VHO super actinics on a 55 gallon. The lights are about 10" above the water.

 

[macreefster]

two 250w phoenix 14k's five inches above the water.

 

[cagri]

SE 400 watts, 17 inches

 

[SunnyX]

Aquactinic Constellation(7x54W) 3-4" from water surface.

 

[YoitsArson]

250w 20k, 12 inches from surface.

 

[skiformance]

250 watt de 14k phoenix, 4 inches off the water

 

[Goodwood]

SE 400w 20K @ 6"

 

[Hampton]

2 250w 14K @ 8"

 

[GSMguy]

Fiji thinks that if your lights are too close the sps won't grow, something to do with UV right?

I'm not in agreement.

 

[fijiblue]

Thanks for the info everyone!

Fiji thinks that if your lights are too close the sps won't grow, something to do with UV right? I'm not in agreement.

Where did that come from?

 

[reefer31]

I have my 2-250 watt de 10k atm at around 16-17 inches from the water...everything seems to grow just fine .

 

[xJake]

2x 250w SE MH Pendants - XM 15000k

I keep them between 10-12 inches off the surface of the water, any closer and my corals tend to "burn" (turn brown). It has a lot to do with the intensity of the light being emitted, and it can and should vary with each individual system. I would suggest experimenting with different heights, and then find which works the best for your individual system's needs.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14511829#post14511829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fijiblue
Thanks for the info everyone!



Where did that come from?

Might not have been you but I thought you said couple weeks ago in another thread that putting lights close to corals is detrimental. No?

 

[fijiblue]

Putting lights (Metal Halides) too close to coral will be detrimental - that is a proven fact. Too close and the corals will not only bleach from UV but heat up and die from IR as well. To term "too close" however is the issue. It is relevant on tank size, bulbs, coral proximity, ect... I did not post that a few weeks ago

PM if you would like to discuss it further, but please let us keep this thread on topic. Thank you.

 

[GSMguy]

That is the topic, the topic is proximity of lights to the tank.

How close do you feel is "too close"?

 

[macreefster]

ive had my halides 5 inches above the water with some of the acro's only an inch below the water surface right under the light...... and those are the corals with the best color. the oregon blue tort can't get enough light it seems. i've never had a coral bleach, but have had a couple turn brown, but those were the ones more off to the side, not under the light. i think they browned due to excess phosphates when i went too long before changing my DI resin..... but i could be wrong. for the most part my corals seem to thrive under the intense light. i'll post pics tomorrow.

 

[dragon76mom]

8 54 t5s 4 12k white 4 460 antic 4" to surface

 

[chessmanmark]

2 x 250 12K DE with Lumen Bright reflectors roughly 10 inches above.