Tip of the Day – 8/26/2013

Sometimes, it is a bit tempting to lower your lights as close to the water’s surface in order to get better depth penetration, but there are several potential drawbacks as well. For one, we’re talking about some serious heat in many cases. With the lights so close, there isn’t as much room for air circulation and the heat source is closer to the water. This will likely results in higher water temps, and potentially temperatures that are less stable. The other drawbacks include burning of corals due to high intensity lighting, and potentially damaging the light fixture from water splashes and salt creep buildup. This problem is only compounded with high volume water flow and surface agitation. We recommend several inches of air space between the bottom of your lights and the water’s surface. If the light isn’t bright enough, then you need to get more or better lights, or both.