Elevated lighting

[Reef Queso]

My question for EVERYONE with open top reefs:

How and the H..E.. Double Hockey Sticks do you guys tolerate the light casting from lighting elevated above the aquarium. I had an led fixture hanging about 8" from the water surface and the lighting from the leds I could see from sitting on the couch gave me a headache!!!

Any thoughts?

[Horerczy]

Canopy facade maybe?

[KnH]

I would add skirting around the edge of the light fixture

[Water Dog]

Build a floating canopy to contain the light spill.

[Clown79]

Ya, its annoying. Bothers my eyes.

 

Great advice above

[ajmckay]

I prefer to remove all optics and put the light closer to the water. Or sometimes I'll angle the front of the light down a little so that it shines more toward the back of the tank.

 

Adding some sort of facade would be a good idea too though.

[Reef Queso]

Or sometimes I'll angle the front of the light down a little so that it shines more toward the back of the tank.

 

 

Angle the front of the light down a little is an awesome idea

[Nightstar]

Well, my light is ~1/8" above the rim of my open top reef aquarium which puts it ~1.5" above the water line. I have very little spill or reflection.

 

I think the reason many people experience reflection/glare issues is due to low spread/high density clusters elevated too far above the water surface.

 

Sure you save money but you sacrifice electrical efficiency and light the room instead of the tank.

[Reef Queso]

Well, my light is ~1/8" above the rim of my open top reef aquarium which puts it ~1.5" above the water line. I have very little spill or reflection.

 

I think the reason many people experience reflection/glare issues is due to low spread/high density clusters elevated too far above the water surface.

 

Sure you save money but you sacrifice electrical efficiency and light the room instead of the tank.

 

 

What type of light are you using?

[Nightstar]

DIY high diode count three row linear array. 68 diodes over 36"

[Clown79]

Well certain light fixtures can't be placed 1/8 above the tank thats why building a lense/canopy is the only way to block the light from spreading into our rms.