Question on light height...

drewissett

Member
Just a random inquiry I guess,
But why (if at all) do people elevate their SW lights off the
tank 4-8 in.? I realise that the MHs are HOT but is there a reason
for doing it with PCs or T5s?
Thanks!
Drew
 

poop_head

Member
Not sure other than that I know with mine like 4-5 inches above they get a ton of water splashes on the lens which dries up leaving salt deposits all over it.
 

thegrog

Active Member
With MH you need it that far up for several reasons. First is the heat issue. Next if water splashes on the bulb, it will very likely crack and be ruined (expensive mistake.....trust me! :mad: ). Next is that all the light is coming from one small source. Higher up gives it a chance to reflect and refract for maximal light coverage.
With PC and T5's, you don't really have the heat issue, the bulbs cover a much larger area so you don't need them up higher, and they are usually covered by a plastic/glass cover so no risk of cracking a hot bulb with a splash. Having them up a few inches does keep the cover more free of salt creep and requires less cleaning. 3-4 inches is all you need.
Hope this helps!
 
Top