Changed Bulbs and have questions.

redvicki · 12/02/2008, 08:58 PM

Just changed out my bulbs last night, my question is how long should I run the new 10000K MH for starting out and how often should I increase the time period they are on and by how long ? Thanks. Oh I was running my old bulbs 6 to 8 hours per day. Also could being under a new MH for 1 and a half hours at the top of the tank bleached out a LPS?

seapug · 12/02/2008, 10:42 PM

It really depends on what the color temp of the old bulbs were and how long it had been since you changed them. If the previous bulbs were 5 year old 20K's you should bring the duration down to a couple hours and gradually increase it back to the normal duration over the period of a week or two. If the old bulbs were 10K's and under a year old or so, you'll probably be fine just swapping them out and keeping your current schedule. That said, if you do see any signs of bleaching or stress it's probably a good idea to reduce the duration or move the affected corals down lower for a couple weeks.

redvicki · 12/03/2008, 05:46 AM

thanks, not to sure how old the old bulbs were. i bought the fixture used and i've had it up about 6 months. so i'd guess the old bulbs were a year old. i'll start increasing my MH time up a little every day over the next week.

12/02/2008, 08:58 PM	#1
redvicki Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 499	Changed Bulbs and have questions. Just changed out my bulbs last night, my question is how long should I run the new 10000K MH for starting out and how often should I increase the time period they are on and by how long ? Thanks. Oh I was running my old bulbs 6 to 8 hours per day. Also could being under a new MH for 1 and a half hours at the top of the tank bleached out a LPS?

12/02/2008, 10:42 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	It really depends on what the color temp of the old bulbs were and how long it had been since you changed them. If the previous bulbs were 5 year old 20K's you should bring the duration down to a couple hours and gradually increase it back to the normal duration over the period of a week or two. If the old bulbs were 10K's and under a year old or so, you'll probably be fine just swapping them out and keeping your current schedule. That said, if you do see any signs of bleaching or stress it's probably a good idea to reduce the duration or move the affected corals down lower for a couple weeks. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

12/03/2008, 05:46 AM	#3
redvicki Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 499	thanks, not to sure how old the old bulbs were. i bought the fixture used and i've had it up about 6 months. so i'd guess the old bulbs were a year old. i'll start increasing my MH time up a little every day over the next week.