How close does everyone have their MH Lights to the surface of the water????

izau3138 · 02/11/2007, 02:36 PM

How close does everyone have their MH Lights(2- 150watt) from the surface of the water??? I have mine 12" above and have had to add eggcrate. I know this isn't close enough. All I have as far as Corals are some button polyps halfway up the tank and a BTA halfway up the tank.

I don't have a temperature problem. This is probably the only positive.

zoomfish1 · 02/11/2007, 02:44 PM

Mine are about 14" with 2x250w and temp increases about 2 degrees. I tried them at 8" and temp rose 3 1/2 degrees so I raised them up to where they are now. With fans it is controllable.

helloreef · 02/11/2007, 02:48 PM

I have always kept mine(250s) 8" but I have a chiller

bertoni · 02/11/2007, 03:52 PM

I've kept them anywhere from 3" or so to much higher up, depending on how bright the lighting needs to be for the corals.

Chaotic Reefer4u · 02/11/2007, 03:59 PM

i keep my dual 14k. hamiltons 10' inches from the surface...

jdm01 · 02/11/2007, 04:01 PM

I keep mine 3-4" above the surface, but I had to resort to a small chiller to keep the temps down where I want them.

Randy1 · 02/11/2007, 04:32 PM

7 inches 2 250W HQI no chiller.

Joshua1023 · 02/11/2007, 05:10 PM

4" w/ 2 150 watts w/ chiller

izau3138 · 02/11/2007, 05:21 PM

Thanks. I guess it all depends on your Corals and whether you have a chiller or not.

bertoni · 02/11/2007, 08:38 PM

And whether there's any fans around.

L and L · 02/11/2007, 08:49 PM

7" 2@175w MH with 1 fan blowing into my canopy on the back.

No chiller

wojo · 02/11/2007, 08:52 PM

3", i have 2*250 and no chiller, 80 is my temp

natron · 02/11/2007, 08:52 PM

1-250 watt, 8" , no chiller.temp varies about 1 1/2 degrees.

adam1969 · 02/11/2007, 09:35 PM

i have 215 gal reef tank is set up today my light are 3" is it too low will get to hot light are 3x250 4x96. i'm new too salt water so i'm learning. Air bubbles are normal for few days?

bertoni · 02/11/2007, 10:34 PM

You might need to add a fan eventually, or raise the lights. Hard to say, but I wouldn't worry yet. Air bubbles are normal.

02/11/2007, 02:36 PM	#1
izau3138 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 106	How close does everyone have their MH Lights to the surface of the water???? How close does everyone have their MH Lights(2- 150watt) from the surface of the water??? I have mine 12" above and have had to add eggcrate. I know this isn't close enough. All I have as far as Corals are some button polyps halfway up the tank and a BTA halfway up the tank. I don't have a temperature problem. This is probably the only positive.

02/11/2007, 02:44 PM	#2
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	Mine are about 14" with 2x250w and temp increases about 2 degrees. I tried them at 8" and temp rose 3 1/2 degrees so I raised them up to where they are now. With fans it is controllable. __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

02/11/2007, 03:52 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I've kept them anywhere from 3" or so to much higher up, depending on how bright the lighting needs to be for the corals. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/11/2007, 03:59 PM	#5
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	i keep my dual 14k. hamiltons 10' inches from the surface... __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

02/11/2007, 04:01 PM	#6
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	I keep mine 3-4" above the surface, but I had to resort to a small chiller to keep the temps down where I want them. __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

02/11/2007, 02:48 PM	#3
helloreef Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ft. Worth Tx. Posts: 51	I have always kept mine(250s) 8" but I have a chiller

02/11/2007, 04:32 PM	#7
Randy1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lorain, Ohio USA Posts: 578	7 inches 2 250W HQI no chiller.

02/11/2007, 05:10 PM	#8
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	4" w/ 2 150 watts w/ chiller __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

02/11/2007, 05:21 PM	#9
izau3138 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 106	Thanks. I guess it all depends on your Corals and whether you have a chiller or not.

02/11/2007, 08:38 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	And whether there's any fans around. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/11/2007, 08:49 PM	#11
L and L Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi Posts: 1,147	7" 2@175w MH with 1 fan blowing into my canopy on the back. No chiller __________________ Layne Current Tank Info: 100g Reef with DSB 120#LR (30g Sump /20g Refugium /20g RO/DI /5g Kalk) VHO 280w MH 2@175 10kk LiterMeter III (RO/DI and Kalk) Velocity pumps T3(sump) and T4(closed loop) EuroReef CS6-2 and 30g FOwLR (DSB, sumpless, skimmerless)

02/11/2007, 08:52 PM	#12
wojo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 752	3", i have 2*250 and no chiller, 80 is my temp __________________ "you work to live, you don't live to work" Current Tank Info: 75g Reef, 100lbs LR, 20g Sump/Fuge, (2)250W 12k Reeflux MHs, (2)110W Actinic VHOs, Dosing DIY 2-part w/ Aquamedic Twin Doser, all controlled by ReefKeeper2

02/11/2007, 08:52 PM	#13
natron Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Albuquerque,NM Posts: 188	1-250 watt, 8" , no chiller.temp varies about 1 1/2 degrees. __________________ "what we have here is a failure to communicate" Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon RR,20G Sump/fuge,ATI 6x39,BM 5 cone,RKL,MP40/10

02/11/2007, 09:35 PM	#14
adam1969 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Douglassville PA Posts: 109	i have 215 gal reef tank is set up today my light are 3" is it too low will get to hot light are 3x250 4x96. i'm new too salt water so i'm learning. Air bubbles are normal for few days?

02/11/2007, 10:34 PM	#15
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You might need to add a fan eventually, or raise the lights. Hard to say, but I wouldn't worry yet. Air bubbles are normal. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni