How high are your lights from the top of the tank?
- Thread starter trouble93
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flukes
Guest
I keep my lights about 93 million miles over top of my corals (ok Im joking).
Maybe drop them down slowly over a few weeks and see what happens.
Maybe drop them down slowly over a few weeks and see what happens.
flower
Well-Known Member
I would not drop the lights unless you have a glass cover over them. A tiny drop of water will burst a MH bulb. I learned that the hard way..I burst a new $70.00 MH bulb doing a top off.
20K is very, very blue, if you have no glass over the bulbs. leave the lights where they are, if you want brighter try a 14K bulb. I just raised mine to about 10 inches..highest I can go.
P.S.
2 X 400W??? I have 2 X 175w over a 90g and yours is over a 75g...you are cooking the coral as it is.
trouble93
Member
Originally Posted by Flukes
http:///forum/post/3177864
I keep my lights about 93 million miles over top of my corals (ok Im joking).
Maybe drop them down slowly over a few weeks and see what happens.
I'm having another hood made it should be ready soon. I think I'm loosing to much light now so maybe drop them about 3 inches.
http:///forum/post/3177864
I keep my lights about 93 million miles over top of my corals (ok Im joking).
Maybe drop them down slowly over a few weeks and see what happens.
I'm having another hood made it should be ready soon. I think I'm loosing to much light now so maybe drop them about 3 inches.
trouble93
Member
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3177869
I would not drop the lights unless you have a glass cover over them. A tiny drop of water will burst a MH bulb. I learned that the hard way..I burst a new $70.00 MH bulb doing a top off.
20K is very, very blue, if you have no glass over the bulbs. leave the lights where they are, if you want brighter try a 14K bulb. I just raised mine to about 10 inches..highest I can go.
P.S.
2 X 400W??? I have 2 X 175w over a 90g and yours is over a 75g...you are cooking the coral as it is.
I have a glass tube that goes over the bulbs. I tried 14k I just didn't like that look it was alittle to yellow after seeing the tank under 20k's And I haven't cooked anything yet. Just about all my coral requires strong lighting.
http:///forum/post/3177869
I would not drop the lights unless you have a glass cover over them. A tiny drop of water will burst a MH bulb. I learned that the hard way..I burst a new $70.00 MH bulb doing a top off.
20K is very, very blue, if you have no glass over the bulbs. leave the lights where they are, if you want brighter try a 14K bulb. I just raised mine to about 10 inches..highest I can go.
P.S.
2 X 400W??? I have 2 X 175w over a 90g and yours is over a 75g...you are cooking the coral as it is.
I have a glass tube that goes over the bulbs. I tried 14k I just didn't like that look it was alittle to yellow after seeing the tank under 20k's And I haven't cooked anything yet. Just about all my coral requires strong lighting.
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by trouble93
http:///forum/post/3177881
I have a glass tube that goes over the bulbs. I tried 14k I just didn't like that look it was alittle to yellow after seeing the tank under 20k's And I haven't cooked anything yet. Just about all my coral requires strong lighting.
With that powerful of lighting why drop them down? Is there a problem?
http:///forum/post/3177881
I have a glass tube that goes over the bulbs. I tried 14k I just didn't like that look it was alittle to yellow after seeing the tank under 20k's And I haven't cooked anything yet. Just about all my coral requires strong lighting.
With that powerful of lighting why drop them down? Is there a problem?
trouble93
Member
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3177914
With that powerful of lighting why drop them down? Is there a problem?
The only problem and it's not realy a problem. I think I should have more color in some of the coral. And I have tried everything else. So I said why not give that a try.
http:///forum/post/3177914
With that powerful of lighting why drop them down? Is there a problem?
The only problem and it's not realy a problem. I think I should have more color in some of the coral. And I have tried everything else. So I said why not give that a try.
rlablan
Active Member
I would think that if you are losing color now, lowering the lights is not going to help that. I would think that with that much power, you will end up washing the corals out, or possibly bleaching them. If you want some good color pop, just go get a strip light, and put on actinics in it. That way the actinic will bring out the color without making any more heat from the MH lighting being close to the water, and you will not have the issue of bleaching or washing out your corals. JM2C.
Good luck!
Good luck!
trouble93
Member
Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3177919
I would think that if you are losing color now, lowering the lights is not going to help that. I would think that with that much power, you will end up washing the corals out, or possibly bleaching them. If you want some good color pop, just go get a strip light, and put on actinics in it. That way the actinic will bring out the color without making any more heat from the MH lighting being close to the water, and you will not have the issue of bleaching or washing out your corals. JM2C.
Good luck!
I have had these lights on this tank for more then a year and never bleached a coral. And if I run actinic along side the 20k's you wouldn't see it. I have two 54watt that come on before the MH kick on. After the bulbs heat up there's no need for actinic.
http:///forum/post/3177919
I would think that if you are losing color now, lowering the lights is not going to help that. I would think that with that much power, you will end up washing the corals out, or possibly bleaching them. If you want some good color pop, just go get a strip light, and put on actinics in it. That way the actinic will bring out the color without making any more heat from the MH lighting being close to the water, and you will not have the issue of bleaching or washing out your corals. JM2C.
Good luck!
I have had these lights on this tank for more then a year and never bleached a coral. And if I run actinic along side the 20k's you wouldn't see it. I have two 54watt that come on before the MH kick on. After the bulbs heat up there's no need for actinic.
trouble93
Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3177920
My bulbs are 16" away from the water surface.
Are they under a canopy? If so you are keeping more light in, mine are in a open hood just hanging over the tank. What size tank? and what type of corals?
http:///forum/post/3177920
My bulbs are 16" away from the water surface.
Are they under a canopy? If so you are keeping more light in, mine are in a open hood just hanging over the tank. What size tank? and what type of corals?
reefkprz
Active Member
I have my fixture as close as possible. so the actual distance from the bulbs to the water is about 8 inches. If I could get them down to 4 inches I would. (I have 2x250 halide and 2x110w vho)
though with 2X400w halide on a 75 I would run them a little higher to keep from overheating my tank. I would probably stick with your 11 inch distance.
though with 2X400w halide on a 75 I would run them a little higher to keep from overheating my tank. I would probably stick with your 11 inch distance.
t316
Active Member
Originally Posted by trouble93
http:///forum/post/3177945
Are they under a canopy? If so you are keeping more light in, mine are in a open hood just hanging over the tank. What size tank? and what type of corals?
yes, I have a canopy. It's an in-wall tank and the canopy inside has 3 mh's and 2 actinic.
280 gal tank, various corals but majority are various shrooms, zoos and leathers.
http:///forum/post/3177945
Are they under a canopy? If so you are keeping more light in, mine are in a open hood just hanging over the tank. What size tank? and what type of corals?
yes, I have a canopy. It's an in-wall tank and the canopy inside has 3 mh's and 2 actinic.
280 gal tank, various corals but majority are various shrooms, zoos and leathers.
trouble93
Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3178064
I have my fixture as close as possible. so the actual distance from the bulbs to the water is about 8 inches. If I could get them down to 4 inches I would. (I have 2x250 halide and 2x110w vho)
though with 2X400w halide on a 75 I would run them a little higher to keep from overheating my tank. I would probably stick with your 11 inch distance.
Thanks
http:///forum/post/3178064
I have my fixture as close as possible. so the actual distance from the bulbs to the water is about 8 inches. If I could get them down to 4 inches I would. (I have 2x250 halide and 2x110w vho)
though with 2X400w halide on a 75 I would run them a little higher to keep from overheating my tank. I would probably stick with your 11 inch distance.
Thanks
trouble93
Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3178117
yes, I have a canopy. It's an in-wall tank and the canopy inside has 3 mh's and 2 actinic.
280 gal tank, various corals but majority are various shrooms, zoos and leathers.
The reason it so close is the tank is mostly LPS' & SPS' and know canopy
http:///forum/post/3178117
yes, I have a canopy. It's an in-wall tank and the canopy inside has 3 mh's and 2 actinic.
280 gal tank, various corals but majority are various shrooms, zoos and leathers.
The reason it so close is the tank is mostly LPS' & SPS' and know canopy