sudden light increase shock corals & best way to prevent?

R

Reefmike

Basically, this question is in reference to when the 75 is finished and I move some of the inhabitants over from the 60. The 60 has a combo of PC & HO-T5. The 75 has 2x 250w MH. Most of the frags that will be moved are up at the top of the tank right under the T5's. There may be a few items from lower in the tank that get moved over as well.
I feel the ones up high under the T5's can probably go right in where I want them. I'm worried about the other stuff that's lower and towards the front under the PC's. How much of a concern should this be and what is the best method to prevent? Place on the bottom and slowly move up or place where I want and shade with multiple fiberglass window screen pieces slowly removing pieces over a span of time?

Thanks,
 
I always start my lights out pretty far off the water and slowly Lower them closer to the water over about a month. I think the most important thing to practice in Marine Aquatics is "patience" The one thing I dont have! :D
Hey Mike hoes the sugar gliders?
 
You can also get the screen material from Home depot(non-metallic) and make several layers to fit your layout. Reduce your lighting time and remove a screen each week until all screens are removed, then slowly increase your lighting until back to desired length. You can also use the screen method along with raising the lights or a combination of both.... whatever is easier for ya to do. :wink: HTH

Cheers!
 
Ron, what length of time do you suggest shortening it to? I run the PC/HO-T5 combo they're under now for 12 hrs. I'm not really able to raise and lower the lights because they're set in/on holes in the canopy (see pic). Also, how many layers of screen would you suggest?
Thanks,
 
Chris, you weren't supposed to tell anybody I was pimping gliders! :lol:
JK. They're doing great. Some very cool critters!
 
@Reefmike wrote:
Ron said:
Mike,
I think it's recommended not to go below a 3hrs minimum lighting period. I would do at least 4 layers of screen, peel off one a week then start increasing the period over the next couple of weeks after that. G-luck

Cheers!
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If you set your lights to come on 5 hours a day at first, the corals should be fine. I think that might be a little on the short side. I know you are moving over to 500w of light. How many watts are you currently using?

You can increase your timers every day by 15 minutes until you reach the full photo-period. My tank is lit with MH from 10:15am to 9:45pm.
 
Marc,
On a similar note, I remember when I was researching his several months ago, I found several articles mentioning corals only needing 4-6 hours of usable light daily and most others recommending 10-12hrs. I have yet to see anyone with a 4-6 hrs light schedule but I would like to hear your take on this.

Cheers!
 
How many watts are you currently using? said:
The 60 has 368watts on 12hrs. There are 260w of PC (2x 50/50 & 2x 12,000k) and 108w of HO-T5 (2x 10,000k). The SPS frags that I'm moving from the 60 to the 75 are sitting on my DIY HOT frag rack and are 7-8" directly below the HO-T5's. The MH's on the 75 are 2x 250w pendants w 2x 15,000k XM and are 10-11" above the water surface.
You know, after taking the measurements and typing the numbers, I now wonder if I'm "over-worrying" about this with the penetration of the T-5's vs. MH's?
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Yeah, I think the transition will be brighter, but not like going from normal output fluorescent bulbs to Metal Halide overnight. Maybe decrease the light to 8 hours a day and get it back up to around 10 or 11.

I'm thinking about reducing my lighting period. It'll save me on electricity and probably give my corals a little more time to rest. They are probably being lit too long, and the extra light has to be fuel to any nuisance algae.
 
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