safe distance for lamps?

[hartkarl]

im building a new light canopy for my 75 gal tank. im using 4vho lamps with remote ballast. what is a safe distance or a practical distance from the water? i want to keep the top as sleek as possible. no higher than 4 or 5 inches. will i need fans in the top? or are they a good idea anyway to keep the heat down? one more thing, are standard sockets acceptable or should i go with the waterproof ones? i want to build the top onetime thats why so many questions. thanks.

 

[justinx]

A couple things,
1. Fans wil help with the temp, but will also accelerate evaporation. I personally do not use fans.
2. I have my vho tubes about 5 inches off the water, and i have not had any problems. I dont think that i would go any lower because the bulbs do get hot, and if enought water were to splash on them, it could cause them to shatter.
3. Waterproof endcaps are a 100% must. The other encaps are a serious, i mean serious fire hazard. What will happen is that water evaporation will build up around the contacts and create an electrical arc that could start a fire. Especially if you have a wooden canopy.
Hope that is what you were looking for.

 

[hartkarl]

thats what i was looking for thanks.