Somewhat Newbie here with a ? about lights

[hstormont]

How do you keep your lights from getting salt all over them? I currently have my light sitting across the top of my tank and it is always caked with salt.
Are you supposed to just sit it there? I have a glass canopy but I thought it would block the light so I stopped using it.
Thanks for any idea.
Heather

 

[scubaguy]

If they are the lights that come with the tank, normal flourscents. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a thin piece of plexi cut to the deminsions of the lights. You will have to wipe them down like with the glass but you will have a open top. Or get some egg crate for lights and put it on top of your tank with lights ont he top. That will keep the fish from jumping out also.

 

[hstormont]

Thanks for the info.
Its an aqualight power compact that has a thin plastic cover over the bulbs, but it is dirty the next day after I clean it. I was wondering if theres a trip to keeping it clean or something. Maybe I just need to wipe it down daily.

 

[rcoultas]

if your light is getting dirty that quickly then you've either got it far too close to the surface of the water ( which egg crate would help serve as a spacer ) or you have far too much air circulating in the tank. Are you running an air stone? What type of filter are you using?

 

[hstormont]

I have an emporer hang on filter, a protein skimmer and a powerhead. I thought that surface agitation was good....

 

[tizzo]

Surface agitation is good.
But if you had an airstone then microbubbles popping on your surface is adventagiously useless.
I had the same lights and I actually pulled that plastic out about every day or so and rinsed it in my sink.
You have the "legs" for it??
If so then that's pretty much it. You can raise the lights, but if you have corals then that's less light for them.
Only way around it is to upgrage to pendants or a hood. Least, that's the only way I know of...

 

[monkdaily]

i hate to hijack this but wut does this egg crate look like tahat erryone keeps talkin bout

 

[maxalmon]

Eggcrate = Lighting Diffusor Panel.
It's a 4'x2' panel thats usually white and has a .5" grid of plastic, it's used in overhead fluorescent lighting and is sold in the lighting department of most hardware stores for $5-$8 per panel. You can snip it to size or cut with a fine tooth hacksaw....

 

[petjunkie]

Emperor filters seem to kick up a ton of salt spray, I use aquaclear now to move water instead but my skimmer still throws some. Move your light closer to the front too.

 

[boston]

How Far Should The Light Be Off The Water?

 

[scubaguy]

I think and have been know to be wrong, 7 to 9 inches