How high to hang MH lights

[Oliver_Klosoff]

Hey everyone
Just wondering how many inches above the water should I be hang my 250W 14000k MH pendulume lights?

Thank you Wayne

 

[mike011689]

How big is the tank? If its anything less than like...40g, pretty high up off the tank or you'll fry it lol. Otherwise maybe 6-8 inches or so is plenty.

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

Sorry I have a 75g dimentions 21 inch deep, 18 inch wide, and 4 foot long. I have two of these lights.

Wayne

 

[cmor1701d]

New tank with new lights or are you replacing some other light.
If it's all new then anywhere from 6" - 10" should be good.

If you are replacing another lower powered light you need to start with it higher and lower a bit each week till you get it where you want it. Or, you could use a few layers of screen door material to block the light and pull one layer off each week.

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

It's an old set up, the lights are at about 12 inches above water now. Works ok for mushroomes but I want to get into sps corals among others and I am not sure I have enough intensity. Obviously I could lower the lights.

Thank you Wayne

 

[ccCapt]

250w MH bulbs at 12" over a 75g tank is plenty of light for any coral. If you are having problems with corals, it's not because of the lighting.

I have 175w MH's 12" over a 125 and can grow any coral.

 

[Oliver_Klosoff]

No coral problems right now I just have a few mushrooms, but I am looking to get into coral. Thank you for all your experience guys please keep it comming. I read my last post and the sentence "obviously I can lower the lights." sounded to me to come off a little snobby but that was not my intent. What I ment to say was it would be easy enough to lower my lights if you guys think I need it. Sorry

talk to you later Wayne