How far are everyones lights from the water?

[CoMMaNdeR]

Guys about this topic I would like to add something.
My PC's and Halides are about 12" far away from the water level. They are so far because between the lights and the water level there are 2 big piece of glass to cover the tank.

They slide just to open them and operate.They are also good in my opinion for not letting the snails going out from top of the tank.

Being the lights so far I am having less ligh into my tank, that is 30" of height. So do you think I should eliminate the top sliding glasses and lower my lights a bit ?

But then my snails will come out right because my tank is build in the wall and there is no need of a hood ?

Hope you understand well my problem
Thanks alot

[finding nemo]

I don't have MH, I have t5's and vho's, both are about 6" from the top of the tank, not the water but the tank itself.
I have problems with splashing so keep the glass on where the filters are but not the rest of the tank.

[mikeatjac]

VHO's should be kept within 3" of the water top. I keep my MH about 7" above the water in the winter and 8-9" in the summer.

[reverendmaynard]

vhos with diy hood over glass tops. 2-3" over the water.

[michaeldaly]

My halides are 6 1/2 in up

[carolinareefs]

My 250W halides are 13" above my 21" deep tank. Allows me to keep sps high and lps, softies & mushrooms on the bottom. Doesn't even raise my temp 1 degree when they are on, with the fans and hood I built.

I do not have glass covers. That will block a lot of light. Would either move the lights closer with the glass covers, or take off the glass covers and keep the lights where they are, your corals should notice a difference.

[JmLee]

my MH are 8 inch above water line.

[Znut Reefer]

My 400 MH are 12" above the water. I can keep frags on the bottom of a 31" tank. If I leave them too long they attach.

[mr pink floyd]

my 65 watts of pc are abotu 2-3 inches up on legs, im going to get another 65 watt fixture, so i can do more stuff, it is mainly a softie tank, and i will probably put then right on my glass hood, which i dont have on right now, because it reflects light away.

[NbMaxx13]

mY MH are 12 inches above the water

[jpslickorocks]

my vho's are 7 inches above the water

[CoMMaNdeR]

Thanks alot guys for your info.

Yes I think I will take off the sliding top glasses. If I take them out I will have more light and more evaporation for sure.

[finding nemo]

Com, just make sure you wont get any splashing on those MH, they will blow up immediately if you get a splash on them. Be carefull ok.

[integlikewhoa]

My 250w double ended. Hang around 9-10" above the water.

[sean48183]

Instead of a glass top you should go to home depot and get a lighting eggcrate. They are in the ceiling tile section. Cut it with a hacksaw to fit the top of your tank and around filtration. It will help keep critters in, let light pass thru mostly unaffected, keeps open air gas exchange and is easy to remove so you can work in the tank. Then you can put your lights where ever you chose.

[sean48183]

Oh yeah I'll try to post a picture of mine later on. I don't have time right now.

[CoMMaNdeR]

Yes please I would be happy to see a picture, about this lighting eggcrate ...

Thanks all of you guys.

[minimalist]

70W 14000k HQI 4" over my 10g BB.

[jbittner]

T5/PC 3" off the water

[gearow]

hqi hallides with pc,s are about 6 inches above the water

[kevensquint]

250 watt MH SE's, 8" off water surface.