new lighting acclimation

Mekanic · 11/14/2012, 05:36 AM

Question for y'all, I'm doing the screen method for acclimating the tank to the new lighting, and wanted to clarify how many layers and how frequently to remove.

Old light was 2 150w 20k XM's and 2 96w PC's 5" from the surface

New light is 2 250w Radiums 8" over surface

I have 4 layers of screen and was thinking 1 per week, but then got to thinking, I am going from 492w to 500w so that may be overkill, but still think the Radiums are about 5x brighter than the old setup.

jerpa · 11/14/2012, 05:49 AM

The Radium is a fairly high PAR bulb so I would still use the method you described above. It's not all about wattage though. If you have upgraded reflectors as well the PAR might be significantly more than just changing the wattage of the bulb.

sirreal63 · 11/14/2012, 07:46 AM

Wattage does not equal PAR, you are increasing your PAR by 4 times so you will need to be careful with acclimation. A layer a week may not be long enough, you will have to watch the corals for signs of bleaching and be ready to put a layer back on.

Mekanic · 11/14/2012, 09:30 AM

Excellent guys, thank you

BigAl2007 · 11/14/2012, 10:35 AM

****scratch this***

I misread Radium as Radion and gave totally incorrect advice...

Thanks Jack

I owe ya one.

sirreal63 · 11/14/2012, 10:43 AM

Radium, not Radion.

11/14/2012, 05:36 AM	#1
Mekanic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hudson, FL Posts: 891	new lighting acclimation Question for y'all, I'm doing the screen method for acclimating the tank to the new lighting, and wanted to clarify how many layers and how frequently to remove. Old light was 2 150w 20k XM's and 2 96w PC's 5" from the surface New light is 2 250w Radiums 8" over surface I have 4 layers of screen and was thinking 1 per week, but then got to thinking, I am going from 492w to 500w so that may be overkill, but still think the Radiums are about 5x brighter than the old setup. __________________ ~Rich&Cheryl Current Tank Info: 90g corner drilled, 30g sump/fuge, Mag 9.5 return, SWC 160 cone, 2x Lumenmax 2's, 250w Radiums, BlueWave 7

11/14/2012, 05:49 AM	#2
jerpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,174	The Radium is a fairly high PAR bulb so I would still use the method you described above. It's not all about wattage though. If you have upgraded reflectors as well the PAR might be significantly more than just changing the wattage of the bulb. __________________ Jer Current Tank Info: 40b basement sump, 40b refugium, 30g frag

11/14/2012, 07:46 AM	#3
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Wattage does not equal PAR, you are increasing your PAR by 4 times so you will need to be careful with acclimation. A layer a week may not be long enough, you will have to watch the corals for signs of bleaching and be ready to put a layer back on. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

11/14/2012, 09:30 AM	#4
Mekanic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hudson, FL Posts: 891	Excellent guys, thank you __________________ ~Rich&Cheryl Current Tank Info: 90g corner drilled, 30g sump/fuge, Mag 9.5 return, SWC 160 cone, 2x Lumenmax 2's, 250w Radiums, BlueWave 7

11/14/2012, 10:35 AM	#5
BigAl2007 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waynesville, NC USA Posts: 1,737	**scratch this* I misread Radium as Radion and gave totally incorrect advice... Thanks Jack I owe ya one. Last edited by BigAl2007; 11/14/2012 at 10:58 AM.

11/14/2012, 10:43 AM	#6
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Radium, not Radion. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.