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

[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?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by 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?

I don't think you'll get much light spill from the front if your tank is 30" wide, even if you buy a 10-bulb fixture.

The Gyre was a first generation Gyre and it had a cracked cord (very common with first gens) and it was very noisy - could hear it ramping up and down, very electronic sounding. I could not deal with the noise. The motor block and mount were replaced with the latest versions, and now it's dead silent. The mount made all the difference in the world. Now I like it. I got the Gyre after my tank was running, and the rockwork wasn't designed with a Gyre in mind. I wish the tank was laid out opposite so that the Gyre could be on the other side away from the couch but it is what it is. The most intense flow is on the opposite side of the Gyre, and that's where all my flow-loving corals are. I run it at 50% - any more and there's a sand storm. I probably could have used the 130, but I like the idea of running half power.

[Craigdillman]

I was just considering when I get my retro check of making my Leds into a canopy and adding some supplemental T5s