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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/5/2006 12:02:11 PM
Posts: 35,
Visits: 64
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| I read an earlier post of yours encouraging keeping lights close to the water surface. My tank is 25 inches deep. I have 3 250 hqi de mh and a pair of actinic T5s. When I lower the lights it does not look nearly as good. My tank can be seen from 3 sides and I have the rocks in the middle. When I lower the lights, it is too focused just on top of the rocks. I don't like the thought of wasted energy being diffused before it gets to the tank. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
300 reef in wall with dsb
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/13/2007 12:35:30 PM
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| at what height are they now off the water's surface?
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/5/2006 12:02:11 PM
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When I get home, I will get a more accurate measurement, but 10-12 inches.
300 reef in wall with dsb
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/5/2006 12:02:11 PM
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The lights are 8 inches above the water.
300 reef in wall with dsb
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:22:41 PM
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Fluorescent lights need to be as close to the water as possible so as to not waste too much light. But, metal halides are generally farther away to get good coverage. The average distance is anywhere from 6-12" from the water. Eight seems fine to me, but for a more accurate assessment, look at Sanjay Joshi's reflector testing to see what kind of spread you can expect from your lights.
Steven Pro, yeah that is my real name.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/5/2006 12:02:11 PM
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Thanks. I am just paranoid about every little thing.
300 reef in wall with dsb
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/19/2009 1:09:50 PM
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| I ask this with sincerity and respect (no grousing here)... but don't you think a 300 gall reef with what is likely tens of thousands of dollars invested, hundreds of hours of your life and priceless/prized living organisms is worth the cost of a $300 light meter: see my stickied list of fav links for refs atop this forum (under discussions) to Light Meters/Apogee, etc? Conservatively... this aquarium cost over $10K to install. It may well be over $30K. A light meter is a must-have instrument to measure and monitor one of the most crucial parametrs of your tank health and creatures/corals' survival. And so... I cannot, and would not, do you the disservice of taking a pot-shot eyeball guess or guesstimate of where I think you lights should be when a submerisble probe fro a quantum meter would answer the question properly with numerous other benefits.
. Anthony Calfo
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/3/2008 2:06:23 PM
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| I agree a 100% with Anthony...... When I started thinking about changing my lights, a lot of people told me different things. After reviewing all the different opinions, I noticed that 99% of them were base on personal preferences and that there was no hard data backing it. So I decided to buy an Apogee light meter and when I did measure my tank, I was really surprised to realize that I wans't getting the PAR that I was expecting. Even that the tank seem to have a lot of light...... it didn't. So now I have finally decided my new set up based on the information given by the light meter. Invest the US$ 300 and you wont regret it. If you want to recover part of that money, you can even charge a very small fee for "lending" the meter to some other reefers.
135 gallon Deltec Starfire SPS tank
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/19/2009 1:09:50 PM
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heeeey! Gonzalo  Its wonderful to see you around and hear from you as always.Excellent point too about the notion of renting out the light meter. Truly so. It would be a small token for fellow/local reefers to pay for an instrument that most badly need. I even sugges that reef clubs pool monies or do a fundraiser to purchase a club unit for loaning/renting out. Even a small club od 20 members can each kick in $10-15 each to make the buy. So many uses for a PAR meter... ...test new lights when installed to get a benchmark... test them months/years later to know when to change them... notice how very badly dust, debris and salt creep reduce light in water... even worse for lack of carbon/ozone use in most tanks... the severe reduction of light through air for lights mounted high, etc. And indeed... as Fatboy has stated, you will be surprised and likely disappointed about some things you thought you knew. A worthwhile investment my friends 
. Anthony Calfo
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