myxsptlk Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 Hey all, I just got myself three 150W MH lamps, which I'm looking to incorporate into a canopy. My tank's a 4ft. My question is, how high off the water surface would these need to be? I have plenty of computer fans and the canopy will have an open back so I'm not too fussed about heat around the lights, just the radiant heat from the bulbs being too near the surface that might kill any livestock. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 i think i run my 250W MHs around 22cm from water surface and they could go closer, so 150W should be able to be closer than that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxsptlk Posted May 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 Wow that was fast That's good news because I went to redwood aquatics and had a look at their MH pendants to see if there was a recommended height and one of them said at least 30cm from water surface. That plus the depth of the lights would make for a pretty fugly canopy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxsptlk Posted May 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 Oh yea also, do you think I should bother getting T5's for bluer lighting? Sigh, I'm too poor to even consider this hobby, and I've yet to see one fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 what spectrum are your bulbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxsptlk Posted May 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 I just ordered 14000k bulbs because I read that they've got a balance of blue and white? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 T5s are nice to simulate the dawn/dusk light, lets you see some of the night critters come out too (plus i actually prefer the look of the blue lights) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 Hey all, I just got myself three 150W MH lamps, which I'm looking to incorporate into a canopy. My tank's a 4ft. My question is, how high off the water surface would these need to be? I have plenty of computer fans and the canopy will have an open back so I'm not too fussed about heat around the lights, just the radiant heat from the bulbs being too near the surface that might kill any livestock. Thanks guys Oh, around 75mm or so should be enough. It's not like the fish are going to swim under the light and then suddenly explode from the heat. The closer it is the warmer the water will get free heating over winter really... Biggest thing is you don't want the cover glass getting splashed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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