Inches above frags, air vs water

GreenReefer77 · 07/31/2008, 11:27 AM

I broke down my diplay tank and built a DIY frag tank and have moved my light fixture from my display to the frag tank. It's a Coralife Aqualight Pro with 2 150 watt HQI lamps and 2 96 watt PCs. I'm running Refflux 14k lamps and Tru 03 Actinics in the PCs. I have a shallow frag tank, corals maybe 1 - 2 inches below the surface. I currently have the light fixture 18 inches above the surface of the water, but something doesn't look quite right with the colors of the corals, pink colors seemed to too be very visible almost from the second the frags went in so I don't think it is an actual change in the corals. This is the same light fixture, lamps, and frags that were in the display and the pinks really popped. I keep mostly zoas and palys (some rics too). In the display setup the light fixture sat on legs so the lamps were maybe 4 - 5 inches above the surface, but the corals were 6 - 12 below. I don't have a PAR meter to take readings. I can move the light fixture up or down, but it will be a decent amount of work to change the mounting, so I was hoping someone here could lend me the expertise in determining if the light needs to go closer or farther from the surface. I origonally decided on 18 inches because I figured that removing the water in between the light and the corals would make the light stronger, but maybe the light weekens about the same regardless of the medium. All thoughts welcome

GreenReefer77 · 08/01/2008, 06:23 AM

there has to be some lighting expert here that can tell me how water versus air impacts the distance from lights, please

MinibowMatt · 08/01/2008, 06:32 AM

I am running a very shallow prop tank too.
I only have 2" of water above also. I am running overdriven, Normal Output T8's over it, and get very good colors.(for the bulbs I am using--6700k/actinic)

here is a pic of the corals

I would look at your choice of lighting as the culprit, not so much the water depth... just remember, less water, less filtering, more bleaching possibilities.

GreenReefer77 · 08/01/2008, 06:39 AM

thanks and your tank looks nice

not really bleaching, just not popping on the pink colors like it use to with the same light.

GreenReefer77 · 08/10/2008, 08:24 PM

bump

07/31/2008, 11:27 AM	#1
GreenReefer77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 167	Inches above frags, air vs water I broke down my diplay tank and built a DIY frag tank and have moved my light fixture from my display to the frag tank. It's a Coralife Aqualight Pro with 2 150 watt HQI lamps and 2 96 watt PCs. I'm running Refflux 14k lamps and Tru 03 Actinics in the PCs. I have a shallow frag tank, corals maybe 1 - 2 inches below the surface. I currently have the light fixture 18 inches above the surface of the water, but something doesn't look quite right with the colors of the corals, pink colors seemed to too be very visible almost from the second the frags went in so I don't think it is an actual change in the corals. This is the same light fixture, lamps, and frags that were in the display and the pinks really popped. I keep mostly zoas and palys (some rics too). In the display setup the light fixture sat on legs so the lamps were maybe 4 - 5 inches above the surface, but the corals were 6 - 12 below. I don't have a PAR meter to take readings. I can move the light fixture up or down, but it will be a decent amount of work to change the mounting, so I was hoping someone here could lend me the expertise in determining if the light needs to go closer or farther from the surface. I origonally decided on 18 inches because I figured that removing the water in between the light and the corals would make the light stronger, but maybe the light weekens about the same regardless of the medium. All thoughts welcome

08/01/2008, 06:32 AM	#3
MinibowMatt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In Another Times Forgotten Space Posts: 3,389	I am running a very shallow prop tank too. I only have 2" of water above also. I am running overdriven, Normal Output T8's over it, and get very good colors.(for the bulbs I am using--6700k/actinic) here is a pic of the corals I would look at your choice of lighting as the culprit, not so much the water depth... just remember, less water, less filtering, more bleaching possibilities. __________________ ----------------------- Matt Prop & Save! "Sure dont know what I'm going for, but I'm gonna go for it for sure!"

08/01/2008, 06:23 AM	#2
GreenReefer77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 167	there has to be some lighting expert here that can tell me how water versus air impacts the distance from lights, please

08/01/2008, 06:39 AM	#4
GreenReefer77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 167	thanks and your tank looks nice not really bleaching, just not popping on the pink colors like it use to with the same light.

08/10/2008, 08:24 PM	#5
GreenReefer77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 167	bump