New halides:)

[jenkins2212]

Just got my valentines/birthday present from my lovely wife. Just went from 216w t-5's to 716w halides!!!!! So new question is how should i acclimate the tank to the new lights?

 

[sharkbait]

Move all of your coral as low as you can and every week gradually move them up further in the tank.

 

[jenkins2212]

Can i just reduce the photo period to like four hours a day? I dont have room to move all my corals down to the sand bed

 

[sharkbait]

jenkins2212;614326 wrote: Can i just reduce the photo period to like four hours a day? I dont have room to move all my corals down to the sand bed

I have heard of people doing that. I would search it under the search feature in the top right. I have always done the lower the corals then slowly move them up every week.

 

[brynbyers]

If you can't move the corals, can you raise the light? Also reduce the photo period, and gradually increase over a few weeks.
That's what I did when I switched from PC to MH, which was needless to say more drastic.

 

[mufret]

If possible, you can also temporarily mount the new light higher and then gradually lower it over time. If that's not an option, you can get screen material from HD or Lowes and put multiple layer over the tank and then every week or so, remove one layer.

 

[jenkins2212]

Thanks for the quick replies. Yeah I'm going to run3-4 hours. Is it funny that I can hear the buzz of my electric bill going up. My wife says she could tan under them time for some sps!!!

 

[ichthyoid]

Amici;614356 wrote: Just drop the photo period of the halides to 3 hours a day to start off with. Then move up one hour every 2 weeks until you are at your full light schedule. Moving the corals and fixture is not necessary and way more work IMO. Ive always photo period acclimated because moving the fixture changes the spread and moving the corals puts them in completely different light and flow than previously which can temporarily stunt growth.

This is excellent advice, IMO.

 

[atlweb]

amici;614356 wrote: just drop the photo period of the halides to 3 hours a day to start off with. Then move up one hour every 2 weeks until you are at your full light schedule. Moving the corals and fixture is not necessary and way more work imo. Ive always photo period acclimated because moving the fixture changes the spread and moving the corals puts them in completely different light and flow than previously which can temporarily stunt growth.

+1

 

[jeffmuse]

jenkins2212;614321 wrote: Just got my valentines/birthday present from my lovely wife. Just went from 216w t-5's to 716w halides!!!!! So new question is how should i acclimate the tank to the new lights?

That is a nice gift! :thumbs:

 

[jef4y]

Another option which I used on my setup is to go buy standard window screen. Cut 4 layers of it which would cover your tank. Remove 1 layer per week. 4 week acclimation to full strength.

 

[dawgface]

jenkins2212;614368 wrote: Thanks for the quick replies. Yeah I'm going to run3-4 hours. Is it funny that I can hear the buzz of my electric bill going up. My wife says she could tan under them time for some sps!!!

Hotdog, you just gave me a way to convince my fiance that I need new MH.