How to acclimate from MH to LEDs

buffalo123 · 02/24/2014, 08:18 PM

What the coral acclimation process going from metal halide to LEDs. I have no LEDs but researching and when the time comes i prefer not to bleach, melt or kill corals.

darren 9 · 02/24/2014, 08:58 PM

I can share what I have recently done - had a major concern as did you. I went from 2-250 watt MH with 4-65 watt PC to 2 - 72 watt AI Sol LED units. Seems like at first glance you couldn't fry your corals making this move - but believe me, you could. Once I figured out how to program the unit with the colors, lunar intensity, and so - I used the SOLs coral acclimation function. This function allows you to ramp the intensity up of the LEDs. I started at 35% of the total power available and am working up to a max of 75% over two months. So far the results have been great - I have had no bleaching or browning. There have been some slow color shifts - mostly for the good. My chalice corals have responded by getting some of their color back - seem to have faded over time under the MH. My acans have shifted a bit - one very much, but not anything bleached or brown. SPS have probably looked the best they have in a long time - have moved from "pastel" to darker in color.

My advice is do it slow - and observe and make notes.

buffalo123 · 02/24/2014, 10:37 PM

Thanks that will help when the time comes

02/24/2014, 08:18 PM	#1
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	How to acclimate from MH to LEDs What the coral acclimation process going from metal halide to LEDs. I have no LEDs but researching and when the time comes i prefer not to bleach, melt or kill corals.

02/24/2014, 08:58 PM	#2
darren 9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Clarence, NY Posts: 15	I can share what I have recently done - had a major concern as did you. I went from 2-250 watt MH with 4-65 watt PC to 2 - 72 watt AI Sol LED units. Seems like at first glance you couldn't fry your corals making this move - but believe me, you could. Once I figured out how to program the unit with the colors, lunar intensity, and so - I used the SOLs coral acclimation function. This function allows you to ramp the intensity up of the LEDs. I started at 35% of the total power available and am working up to a max of 75% over two months. So far the results have been great - I have had no bleaching or browning. There have been some slow color shifts - mostly for the good. My chalice corals have responded by getting some of their color back - seem to have faded over time under the MH. My acans have shifted a bit - one very much, but not anything bleached or brown. SPS have probably looked the best they have in a long time - have moved from "pastel" to darker in color. My advice is do it slow - and observe and make notes.

02/24/2014, 10:37 PM	#3
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	Thanks that will help when the time comes