Bulb Height

[Chad]

What sort of bulb height are people recommending these days?

I have a 34 gal cube with a 250W MH SE.. no glass top and will be in an enclosed canopy but will be well ventilated.

I was going to go 9" but my tank is 24" in depth and would like to be able to have SPS up to at least half way down the tank.

Thoughts? suggestions?

Thanks!

[slakker]

For me, as close as possible while still able to work in and around the tank... my are about 3 inches above the canopy, so when the canopy is off, I have around a foot of space... I have clams and SPS, so want to make sure I get as much light as possible.

[steve fedyk]

I use 250 HQI DE on a 120G with 24" depth. I run my lights at 9" above the water and My VHO's about 9" 1/2.
I go by how the light looks in the tank. If the the light is not coverring that area of the tank I rise the light.:biggrin:

[jpdutton]

On my 75g cube I have luminarc reflectors but the bulb itself is 6" away from the water surface.

[Marlin65]

I run my 250 about ten inch from the water and my 175 about one inch.

[Chad]

Hmm, so I guess 9" is not too bad.. I would like it to be lower just so I get more coverage but I think the heat on the tank might be too much for a 34 gal.

[Marlin65]

Are you not running a 250W DE If you are I think you are going to have heat issues regardless.

[Chad]

It is SE.. I don't really have much of a heat issue right now. But it is in a quickly rigged hood which is wide open with a fan blowing on the top..

The canopy I plan on making will have 4x 6cm fans on the top of the canopy to remove the hot air.. I am hoping that will be sufficient in removing most of the heat issues.