Hanging T5s?

[scsdukefan408]

I got a new light fixture and I was wondering how high off the tank I should hang the ati fixture. The tank is a 33 long 48x13x14 mixed reef and the light is ati 36" 4x39w with a 36" reefbrite blue.

Thanks

 

[revhtree]

Is it dimmable? I have kept an ATI anywhere from 12 to 24" depending on what I was doing.

 

[landlubber]

i'm in the exact same boat as you and this is the answer i came up with in my research:
it is literally impossible to realistically tell you how high to keep it off the water surface. the height of your tank, height of rock, type of corals kept, age of bulbs and clarity of water all play a factor that can't be assumed through black and white answers.
to truly do things accurately a par meter is the only way and unfortunately even just borrowing one won't solve it as t5 bulbs change over time meaning that the light level will as well.
if you aren't concerned about all of that then you just hang it and observe your corals reaction to the new light but start higher and work your way down to avoid rapid issues.

 

[Reefltx]

i'm in the exact same boat as you and this is the answer i came up with in my research:
it is literally impossible to realistically tell you how high to keep it off the water surface. the height of your tank, height of rock, type of corals kept, age of bulbs and clarity of water all play a factor that can't be assumed through black and white answers.
to truly do things accurately a par meter is the only way and unfortunately even just borrowing one won't solve it as t5 bulbs change over time meaning that the light level will as well.
if you aren't concerned about all of that then you just hang it and observe your corals reaction to the new light but start higher and work your way down to avoid rapid issues.

Agreed, I think 12" above the water level is a good start.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

hang it an attractive, easy to work in the tank distance. IMO 12 is pretty good. a little closer for more par. Acclimate too. with t5s you can use shorter photoperiods rather than a dimmer.
the center at 8in should get to about 600 to 800 par.

 

[scsdukefan408]

i'm in the exact same boat as you and this is the answer i came up with in my research:
it is literally impossible to realistically tell you how high to keep it off the water surface. the height of your tank, height of rock, type of corals kept, age of bulbs and clarity of water all play a factor that can't be assumed through black and white answers.
to truly do things accurately a par meter is the only way and unfortunately even just borrowing one won't solve it as t5 bulbs change over time meaning that the light level will as well.
if you aren't concerned about all of that then you just hang it and observe your corals reaction to the new light but start higher and work your way down to avoid rapid issues.

Agreed, I think 12" above the water level is a good start.

hang it an attractive, easy to work in the tank distance. IMO 12 is pretty good. a little closer for more par. Acclimate too. with t5s you can use shorter photoperiods rather than a dimmer.
the center at 8in should get to about 600 to 800 par.

Thanks guys for the advice