Coral acclimation from PC to T5s

sir_dudeguy · 06/18/2007, 11:15 AM

My current light is 4x96w PC, and i've got an icecap 4x39w T5 HO in the mail and should be here tomorrow.

How do i go about acclimating everything to the new light? I know that i should run shorter hours for one, but what could i use to block light...or do i even need to do that?

papagimp · 06/18/2007, 11:30 AM

did you get the 54w t5's or the 39w like you listed there? I went from 65w PC bulbs to the 54w T5 and saw a nice increase in lighting but going from 96w to 39w t5's, not sure how much acclimating you'll actually need to do. Like penetration will probably be better but I doubt they'll be a whole heck of alot of intensity increase there.

When I made the swap, I hung the light fixture higher than normal and slowly lowered it down as well as used a couple hours less per day, but still had many corals "burn" from the increased lighting.

zma21 · 06/18/2007, 11:45 AM

I used plastic window screen when i went from t-5's to halides. Worked well.

Ti · 06/18/2007, 11:50 AM

use that mesh screening stuff for doors.

sir_dudeguy · 06/18/2007, 12:54 PM

I got the 4x39w t5 HO's in the mail right now..should be here tomorrow. 54's are a foot too long for my tank since its only 36".

Ti, where would i get that? Lowes/HD i'm guessing?

Oh, and there WILL be a difference in intensity i'm sure...the 4x96 PC's i got on there now are prolly 10 months old and are lookin pretty week right now lol. Nothin compared to the first few months.

kevin2000 · 06/18/2007, 01:06 PM

When in doubt start them high and slowly drop .. you can always speed up the process depending how your corals respond.

sir_dudeguy · 06/18/2007, 01:09 PM

would but i cant

Its in a canopy, so they'll be drilled to the lid haha. Guess i'm SOL with that one... I think i'll try getting some of that screen..

06/18/2007, 11:15 AM	#1
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Coral acclimation from PC to T5s My current light is 4x96w PC, and i've got an icecap 4x39w T5 HO in the mail and should be here tomorrow. How do i go about acclimating everything to the new light? I know that i should run shorter hours for one, but what could i use to block light...or do i even need to do that? __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

06/18/2007, 11:30 AM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	did you get the 54w t5's or the 39w like you listed there? I went from 65w PC bulbs to the 54w T5 and saw a nice increase in lighting but going from 96w to 39w t5's, not sure how much acclimating you'll actually need to do. Like penetration will probably be better but I doubt they'll be a whole heck of alot of intensity increase there. When I made the swap, I hung the light fixture higher than normal and slowly lowered it down as well as used a couple hours less per day, but still had many corals "burn" from the increased lighting. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

06/18/2007, 11:45 AM	#3
zma21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NOLA Posts: 1,453	I used plastic window screen when i went from t-5's to halides. Worked well. __________________ SCA 50 Starfire: In Progress Current Tank Info: 20 High -> 40 Cube -> Nanocube 12 DX -> 25 Gallon Rimless -> 10 Gallon AGA Temporary Tank -> JBJ 24 LED -> SCA Starfire 50 Cube

06/18/2007, 11:50 AM	#4
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	use that mesh screening stuff for doors. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

06/18/2007, 12:54 PM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	I got the 4x39w t5 HO's in the mail right now..should be here tomorrow. 54's are a foot too long for my tank since its only 36". Ti, where would i get that? Lowes/HD i'm guessing? Oh, and there WILL be a difference in intensity i'm sure...the 4x96 PC's i got on there now are prolly 10 months old and are lookin pretty week right now lol. Nothin compared to the first few months. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

06/18/2007, 01:06 PM	#6
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	When in doubt start them high and slowly drop .. you can always speed up the process depending how your corals respond.

06/18/2007, 01:09 PM	#7
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	would but i cant Its in a canopy, so they'll be drilled to the lid haha. Guess i'm SOL with that one... I think i'll try getting some of that screen.. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!