Does anyone have bare bulbs above water?

Matak

Matak

Out of the blue!
Jun 18, 2002
1,133
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36
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Near Toronto
I am going to be building a light hood soon and I think the lighting would be much more efficient if I didn't have a plate of glass or acrylic between the ODNO bulbs and the tank water. Do any of you have nothing between the bulbs and the aquarium water? And if not, what should be the minimum distance between?
 
I don't use anything to sheild my light bulbs from the tank water. The lights are 5" from the surface of the water. The hoods fit tightly on the aquariums to minimize any evaporation. Also, there is no water surface agitation when the lights are on. I have an air pump that turns on when the lights and CO2 turn off.

I use cp light kits from AHSupply.
 
This is going to be in a planted tank and light intensity diminshes rapidly with distance so I want to get the bulbs as close as possible to the water surface. Currently my 30g with a plate of glass is less than 1" from the waterline. Thanks for the input so far.
 
I have some florescent bulbs about 4 inches above water with nothing inbetween. I am going to be putting in a glass cover soon though. my bulbs have gotten dirty because of splashing and I don't think it's good for the bulbs.
and you don't want fishies to jump up and get burned!
 
I have a few as close as an inch, none of my tanks currently hqave glass top. My only real worry is the klutz factor, and the possibility of dropping a strip light in the water.
Dave
 
That's interesting Dave, as you have what I consider aggressive fish. Are there any leapers in your tanks?
 
I don't have anything between my lights and the water in one of my tanks, the bulbs are probably about 3" from the surface. Of course, it never occured to me that jumping fish might get hurt but I only have 1 possible jumper in that tank, a betta, and he would never expend that much energy :)
 
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