How high do you keep your metal halides from the water

[Backreefing]

I’m wondering how high should halides be kept from the surface of the water. Also is anyone using a pain of glass between the metal halides and the water?

 

[rfgonzo]

I haven't ran MH's in about 3 years but for me 9 to 11 inches always worked well for me. The only glass was on the MH housing, not the tank itself.

 

[jwshiver]

I have a Giesemann Spectra with two 250 watt Radium's at 8 1/2"

 

[WVNed]

Mine are at 10 inches according to the tape measure.

 

[Bpb]

Depends entirely on the reflector. More shallow reflectors will spread wider and lower more even par distribution, deeper reflectors will focus more intense light under the bulb but won’t be as even or wide spread

I keep my lumenbright minis at 12” currently which is too low. In the future my canopy will have them 18” off the water

 

[Katrina71]

Good point on the reflectors.

 

[jda]

I keep mine anywhere from 5 to 10-11 inches. It just depends. I only use the glass on the DE fixtures.

 

[themcnertney]

I used to run (3) 400W MH lights 12" off the surface on my 220 gallon mixed reef. Loved that setup.

 

[biecacka]

I keep mine about 6 inches off the water level.

corey

 

[DesertReefT4r]

7-12 inches for me. I just converted over to LED a month ago from MH.

 

[biecacka]

7-12 inches for me. I just converted over to LED a month ago from MH.

Why? What leds? How do you like them so far?

corey

 

[Ewilson]

Mine are about 14' off the water to the bulb