Too much light?

BCreefmaker · 08/02/2010, 02:11 PM

I have a 400W 15K MH bulb over my 21" deep 120G. The light is 14" above the surface with a lumenmax reflector. I thought the 400W would be fine since I am using a light mover. So the corals only get a full blast for 1/3 of the 8 daylight hours. I knew some bleaching was going to happen, but recoloring is taking longer then what I expected. And now other corals that were fine for months seem to be slowly fading now. Should I change Over to a 250W? The ballast I have is switchable so it's not that big of a deal. Or should I continue to wait it out, It has been less then 4 months?

MCary · 08/02/2010, 03:27 PM

No, not too much light. Many. many, tanks, mine included, put 400w MH over their tanks and have the corals high in the water column. Some of my sps and anemones are only 6-12 inches deep. In the wild they are exposed to tropical sun and some corals even come out of the water at low tide.

shifty51008 · 08/02/2010, 04:52 PM

i agree, with not to much light. I run 2 400 watt MH and 2-110 watt VHO's over my 75 gal. the main thing is the way you acculimate the corals, start them on the bottom and raise them up slowly over the course of a few weeks till they are in the spot you want them

08/02/2010, 02:11 PM	#1
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	Too much light? I have a 400W 15K MH bulb over my 21" deep 120G. The light is 14" above the surface with a lumenmax reflector. I thought the 400W would be fine since I am using a light mover. So the corals only get a full blast for 1/3 of the 8 daylight hours. I knew some bleaching was going to happen, but recoloring is taking longer then what I expected. And now other corals that were fine for months seem to be slowly fading now. Should I change Over to a 250W? The ballast I have is switchable so it's not that big of a deal. Or should I continue to wait it out, It has been less then 4 months? __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

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08/02/2010, 03:27 PM	#2
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	No, not too much light. Many. many, tanks, mine included, put 400w MH over their tanks and have the corals high in the water column. Some of my sps and anemones are only 6-12 inches deep. In the wild they are exposed to tropical sun and some corals even come out of the water at low tide.

08/02/2010, 04:52 PM	#3
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	i agree, with not to much light. I run 2 400 watt MH and 2-110 watt VHO's over my 75 gal. the main thing is the way you acculimate the corals, start them on the bottom and raise them up slowly over the course of a few weeks till they are in the spot you want them