any lights safe 8 inches above water?

Googlymoogly · 04/28/2018, 12:01 PM

So i recently bought a 210 gallon tank stand and canopy. I really want to use the canopy I like the look of canopy's. But its only like 8 inches tall.... What am I supposed to do about lighting for it? I was thinking in the long run to get one of those T5 LED combo light fixtures... I'd need to get the 60Inch fixture and probably 3 radions eventually when I have enough money for it all. I was thinking of starting with the fixture and 1 LED so the whole tank is lit up atleast and keep my corals on the side with LED... until i buy more of them

But if i found a way to mount it inside the canopy at the very top of it... It would still only be 8 inches from the water.

Is this doable? Most lights people seem to keep 12 or 18 inches away from the water.

Or am I going to have to figure out something to do with this canopy such as make some kind of 6 inch extension or something? My concern with that is getting the stain to match the canopy so it all matches and its so obvious that it is an extension.

oreo57 · 04/28/2018, 01:11 PM

Be a pioneer..
https://orphek.com/or-bar-led-light/

hijinks · 04/28/2018, 01:26 PM

my t5/led fixture that has 4 t5's and 2 kessil 360we's are about 8 inches off the water

AboutToBeReefin · 04/28/2018, 02:02 PM

go LED but take the lenses off so the spread is right and doesnt lazer beam your corals to death

AboutToBeReefin · 04/28/2018, 02:07 PM

the lenses just focus the light. removing them spreads it. either that or cut a hole in the top of the canopy. if you dont remove the lenses it will be too foused at that height and melt you poor corals

newbie2014 · 04/28/2018, 02:24 PM

There's a reefer who keeps his Kessils 5" off the water on his SPS tank. So, yes it's doable.

Googlymoogly · 04/28/2018, 06:25 PM

Yeah i was looking at BRS videos and for the Kessil AP700 they actually recommend some settings at 7 inches. So I think I might look into doing that setup.. T5 hybrid with Kessil AP700.

I'd only need 2 AP700 so it would be cheaper than radion also.

mfinn · 04/28/2018, 07:28 PM

The Radion RMS mounts hold the Radion fixture 7-1/2" from the water on my tank.

soulpatch · 04/30/2018, 08:03 AM

I have a 6 blulb sti and a reefbright strip in my canopy which are only about 8 inches or so above water. ATI is on a slide out tray so I can easily swap bulbs as needed.

mcgyvr · 04/30/2018, 10:16 AM

When one looks at the actual details the different isn't that huge and many lights are easily adjustable (dimmable)..
There is no reason that 8" is a problem.. Just ask my wife

Because my T5 is 8" off the water (I just measured the other day after a post about it.. I thought 10.. its 8)...

Daddi0 · 04/30/2018, 10:26 AM

I had problems with my T5s close to the water. When the ambient temperature (my reef is in the garage) went down and steam would rise, it would get into the sockets and short out the ballast.
Cheers! Mark

04/28/2018, 12:01 PM	#1
Googlymoogly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 69	any lights safe 8 inches above water? So i recently bought a 210 gallon tank stand and canopy. I really want to use the canopy I like the look of canopy's. But its only like 8 inches tall.... What am I supposed to do about lighting for it? I was thinking in the long run to get one of those T5 LED combo light fixtures... I'd need to get the 60Inch fixture and probably 3 radions eventually when I have enough money for it all. I was thinking of starting with the fixture and 1 LED so the whole tank is lit up atleast and keep my corals on the side with LED... until i buy more of them But if i found a way to mount it inside the canopy at the very top of it... It would still only be 8 inches from the water. Is this doable? Most lights people seem to keep 12 or 18 inches away from the water. Or am I going to have to figure out something to do with this canopy such as make some kind of 6 inch extension or something? My concern with that is getting the stain to match the canopy so it all matches and its so obvious that it is an extension.

04/28/2018, 07:28 PM	#8
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	The Radion RMS mounts hold the Radion fixture 7-1/2" from the water on my tank. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

04/30/2018, 08:03 AM	#9
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	I have a 6 blulb sti and a reefbright strip in my canopy which are only about 8 inches or so above water. ATI is on a slide out tray so I can easily swap bulbs as needed. __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

04/30/2018, 10:16 AM	#10
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	When one looks at the actual details the different isn't that huge and many lights are easily adjustable (dimmable).. There is no reason that 8" is a problem.. Just ask my wife Because my T5 is 8" off the water (I just measured the other day after a post about it.. I thought 10.. its 8)... __________________ Who me?

04/30/2018, 10:26 AM	#11
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	I had problems with my T5s close to the water. When the ambient temperature (my reef is in the garage) went down and steam would rise, it would get into the sockets and short out the ballast. Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

04/28/2018, 01:11 PM	#2
oreo57 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1,793	Be a pioneer.. https://orphek.com/or-bar-led-light/

04/28/2018, 01:26 PM	#3
hijinks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 505	my t5/led fixture that has 4 t5's and 2 kessil 360we's are about 8 inches off the water

04/28/2018, 02:02 PM	#4
AboutToBeReefin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 40	go LED but take the lenses off so the spread is right and doesnt lazer beam your corals to death

04/28/2018, 02:07 PM	#5
AboutToBeReefin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 40	the lenses just focus the light. removing them spreads it. either that or cut a hole in the top of the canopy. if you dont remove the lenses it will be too foused at that height and melt you poor corals

04/28/2018, 02:24 PM	#6
newbie2014 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 235	There's a reefer who keeps his Kessils 5" off the water on his SPS tank. So, yes it's doable.

04/28/2018, 06:25 PM	#7
Googlymoogly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 69	Yeah i was looking at BRS videos and for the Kessil AP700 they actually recommend some settings at 7 inches. So I think I might look into doing that setup.. T5 hybrid with Kessil AP700. I'd only need 2 AP700 so it would be cheaper than radion also.