T-5 Height Above Water??

[freestone]

Just wondering what the maximum height above the water T-5 bulbs can be placed. Its a 75g tank with:

(2) 10,000k - 54w
(2) 10,000k - 24w
(2) actinic - 54w

I built my canopy to accept mh lighting in the future so it's quite tall. Right now my T-5's are about 12" off the water. I don't have any corals yet but i will very soon...probably some zoos. should I lower the bulbs a bit or will it be ok where it is.

 

[jrpdriver]

I would put them as low as you can without them getting a lot of splash, I run mine about 4" off the water

 

[CaptNemo]

Do you guys have to cover the light bulb and reflector with piece of glass or acrylic to prevent the splash? would the salt corrode the reflector?

thanks

 

[CaptNemo]

Do you guys have to cover the light bulb and reflector with piece of glass or acrylic to prevent the splash? would the salt corrode the reflector?

thanks

 

[green1181]

I have mine 3" above the water, no glass or acrylic. ...I use vinegar to clean the reflector every month or so.

 

[jrpdriver]

I don't use covers either, I wipe down the bulbs and reflectors once a week as part of my regular routine

 

[freestone]

sounds good thanks. I guess i'll modify the canopy tonight.

 

[hahnmeister]

My T5s are 3" above the water... but I have a full sheet of optical acrylic over the tank now to prevent splashing.

 

[mdelcomyn]

Don't forget too that you really should have waterproof endcaps if you're going to keep it open over an open top tank.

 

[Rick55555]

I keep my Tek 8-bulb fixture 24 inches from the water's surface.

I'm yet to observe the utility in keeping the fixture any closer (on my tank, at least).

Rick

 

[hahnmeister]

You will get higher intensity if you lower your bulbs, otherwise, if that is too much, then you could disconnect some bulbs and get the same output by lowering them.

 

[James77]

Hahn- where did you get the optical acrylic? Is acrylic better or worse than using 1/4" of starfire glass to protect the bulbs?

 

[hahnmeister]

I got it from the acrylic distributor... if you look into it, there are many many types of acrylic with different properties... mar/abrasion resistant, chemical resistant, optical, heat resistant, etc. and combos of all those as well.

 

[rollnheavy]

mine are at 5 inches off the water.

 

[kevin gu3]

The lower the bulbs the more light goes in the tank.

Mine are one or two inches off the water. They get splash and salt directly on the bulb. It doesn't seem to hurt them. The end caps are "water resistant". The bulbs are 54w Hagen blue bulbs.

 

[IPT]

I have the Aquatinic TX5 with the acrylic shield and it sits directly on the rim of the tank. MAybe and inch or 2 above the waterline.

 

[hariii2]

I can'e seem to find 72 T5's.. Do they make 'em?

I can'e seem to find 72 T5's.. Do they make 'em?

Just trying to find some 72 T5's and I can't find them online. I found a few 60" but not much choice. Anyone know where I can find 72" if they do even make them?

 

[neelix]

Re: I can'e seem to find 72 T5's.. Do they make 'em?

Re: I can'e seem to find 72 T5's.. Do they make 'em?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11853278#post11853278 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hariii2
Just trying to find some 72 T5's and I can't find them online. I found a few 60" but not much choice. Anyone know where I can find 72" if they do even make them?

IIRC they don't make 72. The bulbs are so fragile already the 72" length would be more so. Most who require a 72 run 2 36 inch set-ups.

 

[hahnmeister]

Take a look...
2' = 24 watts (12 watts per foot)
>(true bulb is more like 22" with 20" of actual 'lit tube')
3' = 39 watts (13 watts per foot)
>(true bulb is more like 34" with 32" of actual 'lit tube')
4' = 54 watts (13.5 watts per foot)
>(true bulb is more like 46" with 44" of actual 'lit tube')
so... 5' should be 65 to 70 watts based on that ratio... right?

Wait, no! Its 80 watts... hey... thats enough for a 6' bulb, but in a 5' length!?!?!

Id just use 80 watters on a 6' tank... the 6" at either end is nothing to worry about.

 

[madadi]

my canopy used to hold MH bulbs and i took them out to replace them with a T5 retro. SPS color is awesome so im sure your zoa will be just fine. i would leave it like that since you said you might go MH in the future. i don't get much splash on the bulbs and reflectors so thats one less thing for me to clean. mine are 12in above the water and i dont plan to lower them at all because some sps have bleached when i added them to the tank and placed them directly on top.