Lighting Calculations

slyyy · 02/09/2009, 11:07 PM

My question is how to figure the correct way to set-up a lighting timer scedule? If you have this many coral how long should each lighting series be? I am going to buy a Aquapro Metal Halide system I'm using power compacts now, the lighting that I have on now is 8hrs. of blue lighting and 10 1/2 hrs of combo. Everything in my tank is fine now but will Metall Halides goof with them?

Thanx,Slyyy

Brent RH · 02/09/2009, 11:10 PM

bleaching is needed to be kept in mind I would say. Just bleached my coraline algae

jon99 · 02/09/2009, 11:44 PM

I'm not 100% clear on what your asking, but here is some advice...
Your new mh lights will be MUCH brighter than your pc's. Your corals will have to adjust to the brighter light over several weeks. What you will want to do is 1. Keep the new lights on for only a few (maybe 3-4) hours a day at first. Slowly over the course of 2-3 weeks bump it up 30 min a day. 2. It would also be good if you could block some of the light coming from the mh's at the beginning. Screens (like the ones on windows) are great for this. Layer 4 or 5 screens ontop of each other and place on glass top just below mh bulb's. Again slowly over several weeks remove the screens one by one slowly increasing the amount of light going into the tank. It's better to have too little light for a few weeks than too much, so don't worry about your tank looking a little dark with the screens blocking the light. Hope that answers what you were asking.

02/09/2009, 11:07 PM	#1
slyyy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 4	Lighting Calculations My question is how to figure the correct way to set-up a lighting timer scedule? If you have this many coral how long should each lighting series be? I am going to buy a Aquapro Metal Halide system I'm using power compacts now, the lighting that I have on now is 8hrs. of blue lighting and 10 1/2 hrs of combo. Everything in my tank is fine now but will Metall Halides goof with them? Thanx,Slyyy

02/09/2009, 11:44 PM	#3
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	I'm not 100% clear on what your asking, but here is some advice... Your new mh lights will be MUCH brighter than your pc's. Your corals will have to adjust to the brighter light over several weeks. What you will want to do is 1. Keep the new lights on for only a few (maybe 3-4) hours a day at first. Slowly over the course of 2-3 weeks bump it up 30 min a day. 2. It would also be good if you could block some of the light coming from the mh's at the beginning. Screens (like the ones on windows) are great for this. Layer 4 or 5 screens ontop of each other and place on glass top just below mh bulb's. Again slowly over several weeks remove the screens one by one slowly increasing the amount of light going into the tank. It's better to have too little light for a few weeks than too much, so don't worry about your tank looking a little dark with the screens blocking the light. Hope that answers what you were asking. __________________ Current tank: 210 gallon mixed reef 2x250w radium, 1x400w radium, 2x vortech mp40, 2 seaswirls. 40 gallon frag tank 250w radium, vortech mp10, seaswirl. 55 gallon sump w/ remote DSB, turf scrubber, SR Current Tank Info: 210 in the works

02/09/2009, 11:10 PM	#2
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	bleaching is needed to be kept in mind I would say. Just bleached my coraline algae