Coral Light Acclimation

Krenshaw22 · 12/15/2010, 06:05 PM

Ok I'm upgrading my 20 gallon mixed reef tank from 130 watt power compact system. Which is 65 watt daylight bulb and 65 12,000 k actinic bulbs. Im upgrading to a mh fixture which has 1x 250W 15,000 k HQI metal halide, 2x 65W Actinic Blue CF amps, and 4x Bluemoon LED. What would be the best way to acclimate them. The corals are ora neon green bird nest. Maze brain. Neon green candy cane. Zoas. Green staghorn. Monti capriconis. And blue tip acro.

Toddrtrex · 12/15/2010, 06:08 PM

I suggest using layers of window screening -- use egg crate to support it b/t the tank and the lights -- use 3 layers and remove a layer every 5-7 days. Leave the lights at the height and photo-period that you plan on having them. I have done this numerous times and has worked great.

Will look something like this,

Krenshaw22 · 12/15/2010, 06:25 PM

Ok thank you. So keep the photoperiod for 12 hours a day instead of liminting it. And also do I need to place the corals at the bottom of the tank or can I leave them in there current position.

Toddrtrex · 12/15/2010, 07:09 PM

If you are using the screening, everything else can be as is -- corals where you want them, photo-period as long as you want it, etc. (( though I wouldn't keep the MH's on for 12 hours -- heck mine are only on for 6 hours a day -- the supplemental lights are on for about 11 )).

Krenshaw22 · 12/15/2010, 07:15 PM

Ok as supplemental light u mean actinic and or led moonlights

Toddrtrex · 12/15/2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krenshaw22

Ok as supplemental light u mean actinic and or led moonlights

For you I mean actinic --- over my 75 I have 2*250 MH, and 4*54 T5's for supplemental -- the reason I didn't say "actinic" is because not all my bulbs are actinic, in fact only one is a true actinic. And yes it does seem that I am splitting hairs here, but there is a difference, at least in the color put off.

Krenshaw22 · 12/15/2010, 09:12 PM

Ok I gotcha. As other light what are they? Just wondering

Toddrtrex · 12/15/2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krenshaw22

Ok I gotcha. As other light what are they? Just wondering

1 KZ Fiji purple
2 ATI blue plus
1 ATI actinic

Krenshaw22 · 12/15/2010, 09:56 PM

Oh ok. Thanks again for the light acclimaton tips.

Toddrtrex · 12/15/2010, 10:33 PM

Sure thing, glad I could help.

Krenshaw22 · 01/06/2011, 11:42 PM

Shld I do this for 7 weeks or is it to long

Krenshaw22 · 01/07/2011, 01:57 PM

Should I have 7 layers of screen and take about 7 weeks to light acclimate my corals since I'm going from power compact to metal halide I'm in the middle of the acclimation

Toddrtrex · 01/07/2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krenshaw22

Should I have 7 layers of screen and take about 7 weeks to light acclimate my corals since I'm going from power compact to metal halide I'm in the middle of the acclimation

3 should still be fine -- was for me when I went from PC's to MH/T5. 3 layers will block a decent amount of light.

Granted, this is carpet, but still gives a good idea;

1 layer

2

3

Krenshaw22 · 01/07/2011, 02:21 PM

Mine is gray and metal is it a difference

Toddrtrex · 01/07/2011, 02:22 PM

I would be a little bit nervous about it being metal -- make sure it doesn't get splashed.

Krenshaw22 · 01/07/2011, 02:23 PM

Thank you for the support and visual help.

Krenshaw22 · 01/07/2011, 02:38 PM

Its not being spashed its abot and 1 and a half. What could be a problem with it

Toddrtrex · 01/07/2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krenshaw22

Thank you for the support and visual help.

Sure thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krenshaw22

Its not being spashed its abot and 1 and a half. What could be a problem with it

Not sure what it is made out of, is the biggest concern. Certain metals (( copper being one )) are very toxic to inverts. Aluminum, might be safe -- but I don't want to say one way or the other. If it was me, I would just pick up some fiberglass screening, the stuff is pretty cheap.

Krenshaw22 · 01/07/2011, 02:47 PM

Its aluminum.

12/15/2010, 06:05 PM	#1
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Coral Light Acclimation Ok I'm upgrading my 20 gallon mixed reef tank from 130 watt power compact system. Which is 65 watt daylight bulb and 65 12,000 k actinic bulbs. Im upgrading to a mh fixture which has 1x 250W 15,000 k HQI metal halide, 2x 65W Actinic Blue CF amps, and 4x Bluemoon LED. What would be the best way to acclimate them. The corals are ora neon green bird nest. Maze brain. Neon green candy cane. Zoas. Green staghorn. Monti capriconis. And blue tip acro.

12/15/2010, 06:08 PM	#2
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I suggest using layers of window screening -- use egg crate to support it b/t the tank and the lights -- use 3 layers and remove a layer every 5-7 days. Leave the lights at the height and photo-period that you plan on having them. I have done this numerous times and has worked great. Will look something like this, __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/15/2010, 07:09 PM	#4
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	If you are using the screening, everything else can be as is -- corals where you want them, photo-period as long as you want it, etc. (( though I wouldn't keep the MH's on for 12 hours -- heck mine are only on for 6 hours a day -- the supplemental lights are on for about 11 )). __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/15/2010, 10:33 PM	#10
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Sure thing, glad I could help. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/07/2011, 02:22 PM	#15
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I would be a little bit nervous about it being metal -- make sure it doesn't get splashed. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/15/2010, 06:25 PM	#3
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Ok thank you. So keep the photoperiod for 12 hours a day instead of liminting it. And also do I need to place the corals at the bottom of the tank or can I leave them in there current position.

12/15/2010, 07:15 PM	#5
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Ok as supplemental light u mean actinic and or led moonlights

12/15/2010, 09:12 PM	#7
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Ok I gotcha. As other light what are they? Just wondering

12/15/2010, 09:56 PM	#9
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Oh ok. Thanks again for the light acclimaton tips.

01/06/2011, 11:42 PM	#11
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Shld I do this for 7 weeks or is it to long

01/07/2011, 01:57 PM	#12
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Should I have 7 layers of screen and take about 7 weeks to light acclimate my corals since I'm going from power compact to metal halide I'm in the middle of the acclimation

01/07/2011, 02:21 PM	#14
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Mine is gray and metal is it a difference

01/07/2011, 02:23 PM	#16
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Thank you for the support and visual help.

01/07/2011, 02:38 PM	#17
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Its not being spashed its abot and 1 and a half. What could be a problem with it

01/07/2011, 02:47 PM	#19
Krenshaw22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 483	Its aluminum.

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