mh orientation?

salttess · 03/04/2007, 11:54 AM

I read on another board someone suggesting the the bulbs are supposed to be perpendicular to the front glass. All I have ever seen are bulbs parallel to the front glass. Mine came retro fitted to be parallel. Is he wrong? Tina

fat-tony · 03/04/2007, 12:01 PM

i think the point he's trying to make is you'll get less spread out the front and back if they're perpindicular. It's not wrong either way.....just in some cases can work better.

salttess · 03/04/2007, 12:10 PM

So, with a 240 tank, 30"tall 30"wide and 60" long, should I have my lights perpendicular? Tina

Lake75 · 03/04/2007, 02:36 PM

I guess it also depends on the reflector you're using. I have the spiders above my 75G and the instruction that came with the reflector suggested to mount the light perpendicular to the front glass. This way, the light can spead out better left to right and cover a longer tank area. In my limited experience, I agree that light acutally spread better in the directions perpendicular to the length of spider reflectors.

BeanAnimal · 03/04/2007, 04:09 PM

Yes it all depends on the focus footprint of the reflector as compared to the tank dimensions and number of reflectors being used.

03/04/2007, 11:54 AM	#1
salttess Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 620	mh orientation? I read on another board someone suggesting the the bulbs are supposed to be perpendicular to the front glass. All I have ever seen are bulbs parallel to the front glass. Mine came retro fitted to be parallel. Is he wrong? Tina

03/04/2007, 12:01 PM	#2
fat-tony Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hornell, NY Posts: 1,483	i think the point he's trying to make is you'll get less spread out the front and back if they're perpindicular. It's not wrong either way.....just in some cases can work better. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef. Icecap 660 3x5' T5HO Icecap 430 2x6' VHO actinic

03/04/2007, 12:10 PM	#3
salttess Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 620	So, with a 240 tank, 30"tall 30"wide and 60" long, should I have my lights perpendicular? Tina

03/04/2007, 02:36 PM	#4
Lake75 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 158	I guess it also depends on the reflector you're using. I have the spiders above my 75G and the instruction that came with the reflector suggested to mount the light perpendicular to the front glass. This way, the light can spead out better left to right and cover a longer tank area. In my limited experience, I agree that light acutally spread better in the directions perpendicular to the length of spider reflectors.

03/04/2007, 04:09 PM	#5
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Yes it all depends on the focus footprint of the reflector as compared to the tank dimensions and number of reflectors being used.