metal halides and coral extensions

markvanderwoude · 10/09/2006, 08:32 PM

so I switched from pc to a metal halides and the coral extensions don't look any better why? Is there anything I can do or feed to get better extensions

BrandonS · 10/09/2006, 08:34 PM

they don't need to expand as much because the light is more intense.

sir_dudeguy · 10/09/2006, 08:36 PM

what exactly do you mean by "coral extensions"? Do you mean that they were reaching for the light with pc's and so you switched to mh in the hopes that they'd stop stretching for the light? Or do you mean something completely different? lol.

theatrus · 10/09/2006, 08:42 PM

Which corals? Other tank conditions? Flow?

markvanderwoude · 10/09/2006, 08:43 PM

yea I thought with the better light they would look larger and fuller but I guess that makes sense that they don't have to reach for the light

sir_dudeguy · 10/09/2006, 09:19 PM

well having to open up wider (or stretch) toward the light to GET more light is one thing...but if they're staying kinda scrunched/shrivled/closed/not fully open in any way, i'd suspect some problem with the tank, such as the ones thattheatrus meantioned.

What are the params?
amonia
nitrite
nitrate
temp
sg
pH
calcium
i know i'm missing one or 2 as always lol

Also, if you just added these in the last couple/few days, i'd wait a week or so...(if tank params are good that is) because sometimes a coral might have to get used to the new light. Thats why if you've got lots of pc lights, you either want to only change a couple at a time (like 1 a week or something) or just run them on fewer hours for the first few days/week...this allows the corals to get used to the new spectrum.

markvanderwoude · 10/09/2006, 09:52 PM

here take a look and let me know what you think? this is the pc but they are the same extensions

bertoni · 10/09/2006, 09:59 PM

The corals look fine to me.

The green brittle stars have been known to eat fish and other animals, so I'd at least watch it carefully. The Goniopora likely will need some handfeeding to keep it going.

Victoly · 10/09/2006, 10:03 PM

Did you acclimate? If you wnet from PC's to MH's then the corals may be a little shocked by the intensity of the new lighting. Think if you went from cloudy to intense sunlight. You'd be squinting. The corals may be acting in a similar way.

Some suggest lowering corals and raising them up a little every 3 days or so. Or some suggest putting three or four screens above the tank and removing one each week to acclimate.

markvanderwoude · 10/09/2006, 10:06 PM

well not to be a stickler but the flower pot used to get approx. 6in long and now it only gets 3.5 to 4in do they have good days and bad ones the tank params. are all great so maybe I am asking to much

Victoly · 10/09/2006, 10:12 PM

how long have you been running the MH's?

markvanderwoude · 10/09/2006, 10:17 PM

3 weeks now.... and religious water changes 15 gallons at a time and testing every 3 days

corals b 4 bills · 10/09/2006, 10:39 PM

Ah young grasshopper, you must be patient, I have all lps ect. and sometimes it takes a while for them to acclimate to the new light but in time they will love the halides. Today when I looked in my tank they looked like their flesh was dripping off of the rock, nearly 5 times the size of their skeleton, give them treats to help them feel at home like, Cylopeze.

markvanderwoude · 10/09/2006, 10:42 PM

ok thanks I will be patient

sir_dudeguy · 10/10/2006, 07:26 AM

its likely that they just need to acclimate like others have said, so i'd either raise the light, or run shorter hours for a week or so. But...

Quote:

the tank params. are all great so maybe I am asking to much

what are the actual numbers? Many people keep saying they have good numbers, but something might be out of wack and they dont even know. I'm not saying that you dont have good params, but its better to be safe than sorry imo.

10/09/2006, 08:32 PM	#1
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	metal halides and coral extensions so I switched from pc to a metal halides and the coral extensions don't look any better why? Is there anything I can do or feed to get better extensions

10/09/2006, 08:36 PM	#3
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	what exactly do you mean by "coral extensions"? Do you mean that they were reaching for the light with pc's and so you switched to mh in the hopes that they'd stop stretching for the light? Or do you mean something completely different? lol. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

10/09/2006, 08:42 PM	#4
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Which corals? Other tank conditions? Flow? __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

10/09/2006, 09:19 PM	#6
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	well having to open up wider (or stretch) toward the light to GET more light is one thing...but if they're staying kinda scrunched/shrivled/closed/not fully open in any way, i'd suspect some problem with the tank, such as the ones thattheatrus meantioned. What are the params? amonia nitrite nitrate temp sg pH calcium i know i'm missing one or 2 as always lol Also, if you just added these in the last couple/few days, i'd wait a week or so...(if tank params are good that is) because sometimes a coral might have to get used to the new light. Thats why if you've got lots of pc lights, you either want to only change a couple at a time (like 1 a week or something) or just run them on fewer hours for the first few days/week...this allows the corals to get used to the new spectrum. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

10/09/2006, 09:59 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The corals look fine to me. The green brittle stars have been known to eat fish and other animals, so I'd at least watch it carefully. The Goniopora likely will need some handfeeding to keep it going. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/09/2006, 08:34 PM	#2
BrandonS Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 255	they don't need to expand as much because the light is more intense.

10/09/2006, 08:43 PM	#5
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	yea I thought with the better light they would look larger and fuller but I guess that makes sense that they don't have to reach for the light

10/09/2006, 09:52 PM	#7
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	here take a look and let me know what you think? this is the pc but they are the same extensions

10/09/2006, 10:03 PM	#9
Victoly Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Schaumburg, Il. Posts: 323	Did you acclimate? If you wnet from PC's to MH's then the corals may be a little shocked by the intensity of the new lighting. Think if you went from cloudy to intense sunlight. You'd be squinting. The corals may be acting in a similar way. Some suggest lowering corals and raising them up a little every 3 days or so. Or some suggest putting three or four screens above the tank and removing one each week to acclimate. __________________ Don't ever get your speedometer confused with your clock, like I did once, because the faster you go, the later you think you are. Current Tank Info: 46 gallon reef. 250 watt 10K MH. 90 lbs. live rock,2 clams, zoas, softies, 2 Onyx clowns, RBTA..

10/09/2006, 10:06 PM	#10
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	well not to be a stickler but the flower pot used to get approx. 6in long and now it only gets 3.5 to 4in do they have good days and bad ones the tank params. are all great so maybe I am asking to much

10/09/2006, 10:12 PM	#11
Victoly Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Schaumburg, Il. Posts: 323	how long have you been running the MH's? __________________ Don't ever get your speedometer confused with your clock, like I did once, because the faster you go, the later you think you are. Current Tank Info: 46 gallon reef. 250 watt 10K MH. 90 lbs. live rock,2 clams, zoas, softies, 2 Onyx clowns, RBTA..

10/09/2006, 10:17 PM	#12
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	3 weeks now.... and religious water changes 15 gallons at a time and testing every 3 days

10/09/2006, 10:39 PM	#13
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	Ah young grasshopper, you must be patient, I have all lps ect. and sometimes it takes a while for them to acclimate to the new light but in time they will love the halides. Today when I looked in my tank they looked like their flesh was dripping off of the rock, nearly 5 times the size of their skeleton, give them treats to help them feel at home like, Cylopeze. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

10/09/2006, 10:42 PM	#14
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	ok thanks I will be patient