If you have no canopy, how much light spill are you getting?

[smokinreefer]

Hey folks!

If you're running a tank with no canopy, I'd like your feedback.

I was currently running now a maxspect razor on my tank, it's mounts with the legs it comes with. It's 8" off the top of the tank. But being led, and not having wide optics I had no noticeable light spill.

I added some retro t5s, and the light spill was crazy annoying and I had to throw together a hood to block the blinding light.


I was hoping my next tank would be rimless open top with a fixture mounted on top. So for those of you running fixtures mounted on the tanks, what fixture are you using, how high is it off the top of the tank? How much light spill do you get?

The tank will be beside the dining table and I don't want to blind everyone sitting down to eat lol

Thanks!

[Myka]

My ATI T5 fixture is about 5" off the water. Plenty of light spill and it's right beside the couch. I'll take T5s in the eyes over LEDs in the eyes though.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

My wife made a cloth curtain system to go around the top of my tank so it is easy to access the tank, but it blocks off the light spill so there's no glare in the eyes. Works well.

[smokinreefer]

Originally Posted by Myka

My ATI T5 fixture is about 5" off the water. Plenty of light spill and it's right beside the couch. I'll take T5s in the eyes over LEDs in the eyes though.

Hoe wife is your fixture? How wide is your tank?
I'm planning for a 30" wide tank, would you think of a fixture was centered on a wide tank the light spill will be less? Or is the viewing angle from sitting too low for it to make a difference?

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

My wife made a cloth curtain system to go around the top of my tank so it is easy to access the tank, but it blocks off the light spill so there's no glare in the eyes. Works well.

Great idea. Though if need be I'll have a low profile canopy. I'm trying to see if it's possible to have an Open top rimless tank, that's the ideal look I'm going for. Only blinding the family at meal time won't be tolerated.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by smokinreefer

Hoe wife is your fixture? How wide is your tank?
I'm planning for a 30" wide tank, would you think of a fixture was centered on a wide tank the light spill will be less? Or is the viewing angle from sitting too low for it to make a difference?

Tank is 24" wide and fixture is 15" wide. It's not the front that gets the spill though, it's the sides.


Here's a pic of the view from the couch.

[smokinreefer]

Thanks for the pic. And nice tank!

Well, that's interesting. If the light spill is predominantly from the sides, that should be ok.

How do you like the gyre?