Height of MH light from water surface?

[gchoo]

Can I check with the guys who have MH lights, what is the recommended height of the lights from the water surface assuming that the tank is 2 ft in height?

[David]

hi gchoo

suspension height is anything from 8in all the way up to 1.5ft depending on the coverage and intensity you want.

[DEA]

i like 20~30 cm
you might try to adjust the light until you get a feel that you like

[gchoo]

----------------
On 1/10/2003 10:49:28 PM

i like 20~30 cm
you might try to adjust the light until you get a feel that you like
----------------

mine is about 35 cm... I feel that its not as intense as compared to 8x36 W of PL lights.

any idea whats the temp of the water when its 20+ from the water? (w/o using the chiller) mine at a height of 35 cm is around 28-29 degrees.

[DEA]

try 20 then
no way MH will lose out to PL
unless you're using a 70W bulb

my water temp in the day NOW is ~27
with AC fan
with aircon it dips to 24~25

[Vican]

The Optimum Aquarium by the dupla founders, Kaspar Horst/Horst Kipper, recommends minimum 40cm(15&quot they say in the book that at that height, can illuminate water levels of up to 100cm (250W MH)


BTW, this book is out of print already

[DEA]

at 40 cm tall it'll not only illuminate your tank, it'll also light up your house
mine is in my bedroom
having it too high is going to blind me

[loupgarou]

mine's 30 cm from the surface. gives me a spread of 4ft for the whole tank..if I actually had space, I could grow indoor plants on the floor as well.

(but I killed my last pitcher plant + venus fly trap. haha forgot to add water)