Light acclimation of SPS

Reefer PT · 03/21/2014, 02:06 PM

Hello all, Just got an order of 6 different SPS corals I never see in the LFS's from Divers den. I must say I've been impressed so far, The only issue is one of the corals was knocked off the plug. My question is how much do I have to reduce the light and how fast can I come back up. I have an ecotech radion gen 2 that was running at 75% but I knocked it down to 25% after there recommended 4 hour dark period. I assume that they have raised on MH and probably come back up to 75% in 5% daily increments. But if anyone has better experience, please share. I have never bought mail order before. usually just get the coral from the LFS which runs radions and plop in in the bottom of the tank and move it up in a couple weeks.
Dave

mkoop · 03/21/2014, 02:29 PM

I'm using AI sols, but when I get a new coral I kick my blues and royals down to 60% and my whites down to 50%. I leave like this for 3 days, then ramp 5% a day until they are back to my normal settings. Really depends on the tank size as well and light placement. My lights are roughly 10" above my tank and my tank has a depth of 24" (minus 3" sand bed) is essentially 31" distance. So the distance to hit those new corals may like be quite a bit different from one tank to another. Id say 30% is a good starting point until you start to get a better feel. There will be a degree of trial and error, especially while learning to keep sps. A PAR meter is never a bad idea.

cloak · 03/21/2014, 02:32 PM

Here's a good article.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-01/atj/index.php

Reefer PT · 03/21/2014, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the article. Good read. Maybe I'll do 5% every other day starting Monday, which will be 23 days. Shouldn't bother the other corals, right? Thank God for LED's. this would be a pain with a T5 or MH fixture as the tank is in my office waiting room and I would have a heck of a time explaining to all my patients why the "plants" need a cloth over them. Its already hard enough explaining that the big mushroom thingy did not loose its "hair."
Thanks
Dave

codyreed29 · 03/21/2014, 03:31 PM

I usually buy my corals from lfs If you buy them from mh or t5s I put them were they get a leittle less par and them bring them up slow. if i buy from t5s i put them on the bottom of the tank in bit shady spot moving it to the open and then up. This way my existing corals don't get less. Hard to do with a shallow tank using tinted glass would be the best 50% tint 25 % whcihc you can buy glass and they sell tint in all percentages.

03/21/2014, 02:06 PM	#1
Reefer PT Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: East Aurora, NY Posts: 352	Light acclimation of SPS Hello all, Just got an order of 6 different SPS corals I never see in the LFS's from Divers den. I must say I've been impressed so far, The only issue is one of the corals was knocked off the plug. My question is how much do I have to reduce the light and how fast can I come back up. I have an ecotech radion gen 2 that was running at 75% but I knocked it down to 25% after there recommended 4 hour dark period. I assume that they have raised on MH and probably come back up to 75% in 5% daily increments. But if anyone has better experience, please share. I have never bought mail order before. usually just get the coral from the LFS which runs radions and plop in in the bottom of the tank and move it up in a couple weeks. Dave

03/21/2014, 02:29 PM	#2
mkoop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Madison WI Posts: 387	I'm using AI sols, but when I get a new coral I kick my blues and royals down to 60% and my whites down to 50%. I leave like this for 3 days, then ramp 5% a day until they are back to my normal settings. Really depends on the tank size as well and light placement. My lights are roughly 10" above my tank and my tank has a depth of 24" (minus 3" sand bed) is essentially 31" distance. So the distance to hit those new corals may like be quite a bit different from one tank to another. Id say 30% is a good starting point until you start to get a better feel. There will be a degree of trial and error, especially while learning to keep sps. A PAR meter is never a bad idea. __________________ much to learn. Current Tank Info: 180 mixed reef Last edited by mkoop; 03/21/2014 at 02:34 PM.

03/21/2014, 03:31 PM	#5
codyreed29 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 892	I usually buy my corals from lfs If you buy them from mh or t5s I put them were they get a leittle less par and them bring them up slow. if i buy from t5s i put them on the bottom of the tank in bit shady spot moving it to the open and then up. This way my existing corals don't get less. Hard to do with a shallow tank using tinted glass would be the best 50% tint 25 % whcihc you can buy glass and they sell tint in all percentages. __________________ 27 Rimless cube DIY lights and sump mag 5 cad lights pls 100 jeabo rw4 jeabo dp4

03/21/2014, 02:32 PM	#3
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Here's a good article. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-01/atj/index.php

03/21/2014, 03:03 PM	#4
Reefer PT Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: East Aurora, NY Posts: 352	Thanks for the article. Good read. Maybe I'll do 5% every other day starting Monday, which will be 23 days. Shouldn't bother the other corals, right? Thank God for LED's. this would be a pain with a T5 or MH fixture as the tank is in my office waiting room and I would have a heck of a time explaining to all my patients why the "plants" need a cloth over them. Its already hard enough explaining that the big mushroom thingy did not loose its "hair." Thanks Dave