i am about to add some 250w MH's to my display...how high do they have to be above the water?????my canopy will only allow about 5-7" ..is that enough???? i may put some clams in there after a while..i am also changing this tank from softies, to sps corals..i already have some monti's and i just got an acropora today...any advice would be great!!
MH lighting advice
- Thread starter ronj
- Start date
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Reefdaddy1
Reef Geek Jedi
Ron
Anywhere from 7 to 11 inches would work man. Just have to make sure any splash would be prevented.
Anywhere from 7 to 11 inches would work man. Just have to make sure any splash would be prevented.
Krish
RF STAFF
This is from Premium Aquatics website...
As Bob stated (and like I mentioned on that other thread), you want to keep the bulb from being splashed with water. Here's a photo of my bulb after touching it with a wet finger. It took some of my finger print with it as you can see and caused the bulb to crack which I found out is a "no no" to use even if it still lights up because if the UV shield is broken, it can burn your corals. I ran one set of halides 9 inches off of the water and another set 12 inches and both worked fine.
As Bob stated (and like I mentioned on that other thread), you want to keep the bulb from being splashed with water. Here's a photo of my bulb after touching it with a wet finger. It took some of my finger print with it as you can see and caused the bulb to crack which I found out is a "no no" to use even if it still lights up because if the UV shield is broken, it can burn your corals. I ran one set of halides 9 inches off of the water and another set 12 inches and both worked fine.
Krish
RF STAFF
Yes...You'll be fine. You will just have to keep an eye on heat as well as keeping the bulbs dry...
Here's what Jeff (The Apprentice) posted on a thread of mine that was similar to this one...
Here's the thread if you would like to browse through it as well
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14250&highlight=inches+pose+problem
The Apprentice
Well-known member
Tangs = Lots of water spashing
The only diffrentce I see Ron is I have the PFO ACROLIGHT Premium Hood that has a Tempered glass shield between the bulbs & the Water
But I am a little closer on my 75 about the same 6-7" mark as your looking at but again I have a PFO Acrolight on it as well.. Here is a shot of them..
The only diffrentce I see Ron is I have the PFO ACROLIGHT Premium Hood that has a Tempered glass shield between the bulbs & the Water
But I am a little closer on my 75 about the same 6-7" mark as your looking at but again I have a PFO Acrolight on it as well.. Here is a shot of them..
Yes...You'll be fine. You will just have to keep an eye on heat as well as keeping the bulbs dry...
Here's what Jeff (The Apprentice) posted on a thread of mine that was similar to this one...
Here's the thread if you would like to browse through it as well
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14250&highlight=inches+pose+problem
The Apprentice
Well-known member
???????
Ron I just don't see that many people with the sheet protection.
I just didn't want to have one of my Tangs bust a lense while I was gone and have a coral burned tank when I found it. Plus I liked having my lights in a contained Fixture
I believe the majority of fellow reefers don't HTH...Jeff
Ron I just don't see that many people with the sheet protection.
I just didn't want to have one of my Tangs bust a lense while I was gone and have a coral burned tank when I found it. Plus I liked having my lights in a contained Fixture
I believe the majority of fellow reefers don't HTH...Jeff
Krish
RF STAFF
HTH...Hope that helps! He's saying the majority of reefers don't use protective covers, but he does for the simple fact he doesn't want a tang to bust a lens or have a tank of burned corals.
Krish
RF STAFF
Depends on the thickness of the acrylic, it could possibly bend so I wouldn't use anything too thin if you go that route, but glass is what they use on a lot of the pendants to protect the bulbs so glass will be fine. Not sure if it has to be tempered though. Be careful with heat as well if you use something to cover your tank
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Scooterman
Well-known member
Ron have you considered the height off the water from the actual lamp or the 7" is the height of the reflector bottom? The only time you would have a problem is when fish would jump & splash water that high but then even 12" could get wet in that case.
The Apprentice
Well-known member
Not sure if it has to be tempered though=yes
Yes Ron if you go with a sheild I recomend tempered glass mine are 1/4" thick on my fixtures.
Sorry I confused you in post 10..Jeff
Yes Ron if you go with a sheild I recomend tempered glass mine are 1/4" thick on my fixtures.
Sorry I confused you in post 10..Jeff
Depends on the thickness of the acrylic, it could possibly bend so I wouldn't use anything too thin if you go that route, but glass is what they use on a lot of the pendants to protect the bulbs so glass will be fine. Not sure if it has to be tempered though. Be careful with heat as well if you use something to cover your tank
spongebob lover
flea whisperer
dood just buy some broken pieces of glass and put them on top of your tank
Herefishyfishy
Smart Bass
I took the glass shields out of my luminarc on the recommendation of the manufacturer. He said they were not needed. I suspect that damage from a little water splashing on most single ended bulbs is quite rare. Don't put a layer in front of the bulbs if at all possible. It will lower the par values
redrooster
Landshark
I run 2x250W MH and I am about 7" above the water. I too use the glass shield. I figured it does lower lumens a bit, but I have plenty of lighting either way. It does prevent a problem however. I have actaully seen a tank where water hit the bulb, bulb exploded, glass everywhere in the tank. The guy told me he was still finding/pulling out glass 3 years later.
