To raise my lights or no

davjbeas · 08/28/2009, 05:53 PM

Hello,

I have a 75 gallon reef ready tank thats been running for 3 years.

I have an aquamedic suspended from ceiling light fixture
Dual 14K 250 watt aquamedic bulbs with two geissman pure actinic T5 bulbs.
A friend measured the par readings. Here they are.
1" above water 1270
1" Below water 900
Middle depth in tank 500
bottom of tank 335
It is my friends advice that I have too much light and it is causing
my colors to fade with my SPS and other corals.
He recommends my light be 8-9" above the water.
I wonder what I should do.

Thanks,

David

Fig · 08/28/2009, 08:01 PM

How far is your light above the tank now? Colors have more to do then just light. Are all your levels in check? Phosphate ect? Alk/calcium stable? I would have them 8-9" anyway. More spread instead of a spot.

CleveYank · 08/29/2009, 04:04 PM

Your friend is right.

I run dual Phoenix 14K 250's no closer than 6 inches from the water on a 90. And another of one of my 90's (I have 3) the lights are 10 inches away. A 75 is probably a tad shallow to run things that close.

sedor · 08/29/2009, 09:33 PM

My actual bulb sits about 10" off the surface. The bottom of the fixture is about 8". Those are dual 250 14K's as well.

sedorusc · 08/29/2009, 10:56 PM

I like everyone else here run mine 250 Mh 10" off the water

Toddrtrex · 08/29/2009, 11:57 PM

Heck over my 58 my 2*250 Radiums sit right on top of the tank --- at least the Hamilton full fixture does. I would have to guess the center of the bulb is about 4-5 inches from the water line --- and one coral has grown to the water line.

08/28/2009, 05:53 PM	#1
davjbeas Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Reston, VA Posts: 56	To raise my lights or no Hello, I have a 75 gallon reef ready tank thats been running for 3 years. I have an aquamedic suspended from ceiling light fixture Dual 14K 250 watt aquamedic bulbs with two geissman pure actinic T5 bulbs. A friend measured the par readings. Here they are. 1" above water 1270 1" Below water 900 Middle depth in tank 500 bottom of tank 335 It is my friends advice that I have too much light and it is causing my colors to fade with my SPS and other corals. He recommends my light be 8-9" above the water. I wonder what I should do. Thanks, David

08/29/2009, 09:33 PM	#4
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,733	My actual bulb sits about 10" off the surface. The bottom of the fixture is about 8". Those are dual 250 14K's as well. __________________ Ryan

08/29/2009, 10:56 PM	#5
sedorusc Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: auburn, NY Posts: 1,667	I like everyone else here run mine 250 Mh 10" off the water __________________ I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me. Current Tank Info: 10 gallon, ac70 fuge with nano-glo, 6 rb & 6 cw cree leds, 2x koralia nano

08/29/2009, 11:57 PM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 22,739	Heck over my 58 my 2*250 Radiums sit right on top of the tank --- at least the Hamilton full fixture does. I would have to guess the center of the bulb is about 4-5 inches from the water line --- and one coral has grown to the water line. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 65g reef and 40 breeder

08/28/2009, 08:01 PM	#2
Fig Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 785	How far is your light above the tank now? Colors have more to do then just light. Are all your levels in check? Phosphate ect? Alk/calcium stable? I would have them 8-9" anyway. More spread instead of a spot.

08/29/2009, 04:04 PM	#3
CleveYank 20 Years and Over Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 3,055	Your friend is right. I run dual Phoenix 14K 250's no closer than 6 inches from the water on a 90. And another of one of my 90's (I have 3) the lights are 10 inches away. A 75 is probably a tad shallow to run things that close.