Approximate lighting distances

[Mel Herndon]

Hello everyone! I have a 140 gallon oceanic reef tank that I just changed
over from VHO with 2 IceCap 600 ballasts driving each pair of URI
actinic/white. I now have a new Coralife Aqualight professional with 2 150
watt metal halide HQI bulbs, and 2 96 watt 03 actinic blue power compact
builtin. I have a canopy on my tank, and the aqualight came with stands to
support the light. My tank depth is 24 inches approx with another 9 inches
above to the actual light hood. 9+24=33inches. What would the general
consensus be concerning optimum lighting coverage? Too high, ideal
already, too low?

Thanks,

Mel

[Timothy Tom]

The closer the lighting to the water surface, the more efficiently the
light will transmitted to your tank. The limitations would include
equipment damage (bulb breaking from splash, shorts from splash, etc,)
larger heat transfer to the water, and possible tank damage (warping
or breaking acrylic tanks).