New lights-need suggestions

K

KerryOriginals

[Well, my new dual 250w halides arrived today! :love: I am upgrading from 440w VHOS and have a softy/lps dominated tank (currently). I don't want to fry all my corals when I put these on the tank! A few corals, some leathers, gorgonians, ricordias, and zoos are attached to the top rocks, but everything else can be moved to the bottom. My tank has only had a 20w florescent on it for the past week, and i don't have the VHO to use either during acclimation. What would be the best strategy for acclimating my corals to these brighter lights? Any help would be greatly appreciated!]
 
[Start them at a distance of 15 to 20 inches above the waterline and work them down slowly to about 7 inches over the course of a couple of weeks. You could have them on for less time initially but this is less important I think.

HTH,]
 
[Thanks! I had not considered raising my hood, but, that would not be difficult. I have yet to mount the lights in my hood, but the lamps should be right at 7-8" once installed. I can raise the canopy on blocks and lower after the corals get used to it. Do you think I should still move everything to the bottom, or leave as is?]
 
[I think you can leave everything as is in the tank and just raise the lights and lower them slowly so the corals adjust. No point stressing them by any move.

HTH]
 
[If raising the hood is to much work, just start then at 3 hours of light a day, and increase it 30 minutes every day for two weeks.

That is the textbook answer, but here is my own personal opinion.

We all fret way to much about this IMHO. In the ocean, there are times when the reefs are covered in clouds for a week at a time, and then the next day, full sun. So I dont really think you need to worry about it to much considering whatever light level you have in your tank is substantionally lower then what is found in the reefs. I think I would start at around 8 hours and slowly work my way to 10 or 11 over a 4 or 5 day period.

Another reason I say this is because everything is photosynthetic and they have had so little light in the last week that they are nutrient poor right now. I would not deprive them of their food source for longer, that seems more detrimental to me.


I realize this goes against the current internet trends, but I have always done my tanks this way, and I have not lost a coral in years. If the corals look like the are shriveled and being overexposed, then move them.]



Edited By wakefreak33 on 1115327367
 
[Jason I'm not disagreeing but it is a big issue. If you blast them full strength they will most assuredly bleach and it's not pretty. I've seen it happen a couple times.

Having said that there are a couple ways. The one Soji suggested works well and if practical is probably the best. If not you can get some screen (like used on screen doors) from home depot for cheap and layer about 4 layers on top of the tank. Every 2 days take a layer off and they will be fine!

Reducing the photoperiod can work but is risky. In this case the intensity is the problem I would worry about not the length of time so I would still be a little concerned only reducing the photoperiod unless you wanted to do like an hour and build from there. Of course with softies and LPS it is a little eaier because you can tell a little easier if they are not happy and take action!]



Edited By kwl1763 on 1115329902
 
[Hey, thanks for all the good suggestions! Actually, while I was trying to get the ballast under the stand and hooked up, (that is one huge ballast!) the lights came on...I didn't realize the switch was turned on, so, I left it on even though I didn't have the canopy adjusted or any corals moved yet. Surprisingly, the corals didn't shrink up and hide like I thought they would. In fact, they have not looked this good in months. Even the Discosoma 'shrooms and open brains have opened right up. The leathers have never looked better. The only one to show any distress at all is a frogspawn frag that was right at the surface under one of the lamps. I moved it to the bottom where it is opening up again. Hmmm....? I intend to keep a very close eye on them over the next couple days and will run shorter days on it. I like the idea of the screen filters and may use that, too. Thanks again! I let you all know how it goes! :D]
 
[Update; The few hours I had the lights on right after I installed them was enough to cause my devil's hand leather to bleach over night....and it looked so good and happy! It's ok, though! It did not bleach out completely and is already visibly recovering. The next morning I placed 3 layers of window screening over the tank. I removed one layer every few days and have just the last to go. Everything has taken very well to the lighting change and even the mushrooms are opening fully which suprised me because I thought it would be way too bright for 'shrooms.
:D :nod: ;)]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top