T5 Set-up for 120; height & covering

[Sharpslug]

I'm in the process of building a canopy for a 120 gallon AGA (24" deep) and have two questions dealing with height of the lights and covering. First, I ordered a 8 x 54 T5 Retro kit on e-bay (Aquauniverse), and am trying to figure out how high above the water it should be. I'm planning this to be a mixed reef w/ soft/sps corals. I'm thinking about 5 inches above the water level, but the higher I mount it the more room to access the tank. (My canopy design has a 48'' piano hinge running along the top 5'' from the front to access the tank.) Second, in my current 90 gallon, I have retro-fit PC lighting in the canopy (that flips back) and use the All-Glass plexiglass top that covers the water. Should I use this with the T-5s? I'm assuming the T5 bulbs can't be suspended naked over the water?

 

[Bebo77]

[welcome]

my kit has the t5 bulbs enclosed in glass... aquamedic

you don't want water to splash into the sockets.... if you cover the tank with plexi glass be carefully that you don't over heat the tank.. evaporation is a method of cooling...