how Far Above the Water Line Do You Keep Your T5 Fixture

[layer3switchguy]

Folks,

Wasn't able to do a search that showed much of this info, so thought I would compile a list this way.

Please share, and as an option, let us know what fixture you are using at what height as well.

 

[DNA]

Light loses intensity very fast with distance.
If you need more light moving them closer would be a good idea.
Carbon is also very good to increase water transparency.

 

[wiz careefa]

24 x 24 x 20 ati 8 bulb sunpower about 6 inches above water line sps dominant

 

[CharlieBB]

24 X 24 X 12 (10.5WaterLevel) and about 10 inches above, is that okay?
Cheers

 

[layer3switchguy]

Interesting results so far...

Like much of the things in our hobby, lots of different ways to keep a tank...

 

[bobssecrtsn]

wow i just started a thread about something similar, i just got my 6bulb and its 10" high and i have my lights about 11" from the surface.

 

[boardn365]

On my SPS tank they are 5-6" above the water and on my LPS and Zoa tank they are 9-10".

 

[Red_Blenny]

I have an Aquaticlife 4 bulb t5 that's 3" above the tank. The tank is 10" tall but my light schedule is:

12pm - 8pm: uvl super actinic + ati blue plus
4pm - 7pm: ati blue plus + uvl aqua sun.

 

[cgomez87]

I got a 150w halide with 8t5ho's on my 24 tall 90g cube 8 inches from water level

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Big E]

4 T5's with an Ice cap ballast

I'm at 6" over a 75g ----48x18x20 Sps dominant tank. Acros growth & color are fine to about 18" deep.

I

 

[saliva911]

i have 4x24w t5 my tank is 15inch's deep and i keep them two inches from the water i bought the lights used didn't come with the legs so i put pieces of 2x4 is this to close i have a 28 gal jbj mix reef.

 

[Leonardo_]

10x T5 39 Watt in ATI Sunpowers. I have mine as close as possible to the surface, it helps me to reduce overall lighting period.

 

[redwingrob40]

Aquaticlife fixture about 3" from the water surface here too... Wondering if it would be better to raise them up lots of pale colors in my tank... Very interesting thread!

 

[OnceTrueFalseBr]

Light loses intensity very fast with distance.
If you need more light moving them closer would be a good idea.
Carbon is also very good to increase water transparency.

That's called the Inverse square theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse-square_law

 

[blackout2k]

Just thinking about this

Just thinking about this

So I have a 125g tank
some SPS few tangs, clown,Live Rock and Bubble Tip Anemone

I have a older 6 bulb ATI 54W and I was just thinking about, if i need to raise it to 9-10. and right now I have 3 whites and 3 blues. can someone give me some advise on what colors I should have for the T5 bulbs. My tank is 8 months old and I'm still learning but I love this hobby. thank you.

 

[tmantaylor18]

Interesting results so far...

Like much of the things in our hobby, lots of different ways to keep a tank...

there sure are! We also have to keep into account the depth of the aquariums.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I start off wit a distance of 9-10" over the water line. Then, reduce the distance every month to ensure that brightness and PAR remain more or less the same. I have PAR meter to allow me to judge how much to reduce.