Distance Between Lights and Water's Surface

[Nanook]

[moved]

 

[MeuserReef]

(2) 250W DE Phoenix 14K's (ReefGeek Electronic Ballasts) running in ReefOptix III reflectors 4" off of the water.

 

[Toddrtrex]

All distances are from the bottom of the fixture to the water surface

30 cube --- SunPod, 4" 250 14K Sunpod bulb

75 --- Hanging Hamilton full fixture 2*250 Phoenix bulbs. 4"

58 --- Hamilton full fixture 2*250 20K XMs Fixture sets right ontop of the tank, maybe an inch from the bottom of fixture to the water. ((( Has been this way since I got the fixture, about 6 years ago. Used to be 2*175, been 2*250 since June. Some of the corals are within inches of the water surface, and are doing great ))

 

[james3370]

29 build in progress......24" t5s 4" from water surface

(2) giesemann pure actinic on standard ballast
(2) giesemann 6k midday on icecap 430 ballast (which will slightly overdrive)

..the 6k midday will be changed to 11k at some point. they were leftovers from a different cancelled build

 

[fijiblue]

Toddrtrex - Do you use eggcrate on all your tanks? Do you have any pictures?

How about some pictures everyone!

 

[46FiatYamaha]

2 250w DE Coralvue 14k's at 7" from the water

 

[gcarroll]

400 watt Radiums 14" off the water's surface for me.

 

[Hampton]

Not to trash a decent thread, but are we measuring from the bulb itself, or the bottom of the glass of the fixture?

 

[Hampton]

Double post

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14524224#post14524224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hampton
Not to trash a decent thread, but are we measuring from the bulb itself, or the bottom of the glass of the fixture?

i put mine as the distance my light drawer is from the top edge of the tank....of course the actual bulbs will be closer, but then the water isn't at the top edge of the tank, so i think it's all about the same LOL

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14515446#post14515446 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fijiblue
Toddrtrex - Do you use eggcrate on all your tanks? Do you have any pictures?

How about some pictures everyone!

I only have egg create over the cube, and that is only to make sure the clowns don't jump --- they weren't cheap.

FTS of that tank,

One coral shot

Need to get some updated from that tank, and some from the 75, but that isn't going to happen for the next couple of days --- since they are upstairs, and won't be going upstairs for the next couple of days.


Here are some from the 58, with no egg create and the lights right on top of the tank.

FTS, taken with flash and the MHs off

Top downs,

 

[Reefer08]

16 inches above the surface lol. Its a lumenbright thats why.

 

[Sump'n2do]

Lighting is listed below, they are about 7" above the water in a canopy.

 

[fijiblue]

Im willing to bet that majority of the people within the 2-4" category are using SE bulbs.

 

[stony_corals]

Aquactinics makes their halide fixtures such that you are able to set them on top of the aquarium without increasing the temp of the tank. I think many of the shallow water corals can stand the amounts of UV and IR that halides put out, as the sun does put out more. But yes, anything other than corals from the shallows, and they are likely going to fry with running your lights very close.

I'm not running halides anymore..... When I did, I shot for 10-12 on shielded DEs. With lumenarcs and SEs, a little closer, say 8".

With T5s, initially, I ran them almost on top of the tank (PowerModules, SolarFlares, retros). But not, since I miss the top down, I have raised them a good 4" off the top of the tanks.

 

[james3370]

well, i have VERY technical reasons for choosing 4" as the distance i will have my t5s from the top of the tank edge.....because i'm using 4" fans & a drawer slide for the lights LOL

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14532962#post14532962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fijiblue
Im willing to bet that majority of the people within the 2-4" category are using SE bulbs.

All three of mine are within the 2-4 inch category, only one of them are using SE bulbs.

 

[gcarroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14532962#post14532962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fijiblue
Im willing to bet that majority of the people within the 2-4" category are using SE bulbs.

I would expect otherwise. Ever seen what happens to a SE bulb when it gets a few drops water splashed on it?

 

[fijiblue]

All three of mine are within the 2-4 inch category, only one of them are using SE bulbs.

Again, I think majority of the closer bulbs are single ended

Ever seen what happens to a SE bulb when it gets a few drops water splashed on it?

Been there myself many times One of the reasons I switched to DE - to contain the explosion if there ever was one!

Stony - whats your pick out of those (PowerModules, SolarFlares, retros)?

 

[serum153]

48" 4 bulb t5 retro on an icecap 660 - 4 inches above water. Always scared of splashing when I am topping off, but the little specks don't seem to do harm.