How to transition to a brighter lighting system

[TRDfan]

Currently I?m using a 36" Odyssea 4 bulb t5 fixture with ATI/Giesemann bulb combo. I Just ordered the current nova extreme pro which has the 6 bulbs with the individual reflectors and I was wondering whats the best way to transition my tank to the new lighting system??

Should I be moving the coral down and slowly bringing them back up?? or should I be running only 4 bulbs for the first couple of weeks and then gradually introducing 1 bulb every couple of week??

Also I should expect some algea bloom with the brighter fixture?? At least at first??

 

[House of Laughter]

I think most of this concern is dependent on the animals currently housed in the tank. Without that, it's tough to say what their reaction would be.

As for algae growth, I would say cut the light cycle down an hour or two when you add the new fixture and then slowly increase the light time.

FWIW

house

 

[Imbarrie]

I believe the Nova light has two switches operating 4 bulbs and 2 bulbs independently.
So you can run 4 bulbs at first and it will be a little brighter than your current setup due to the parabolic reflectors. After a while you can turn the other switch on for a short duration, increasing this time until fully acclimated. That time would depend on your livestock.
Use two timers, one for each bank of lights, that way you can have a constant photo period.
I had that light and it was great, but the fans were a little noisy.

 

[Jim]

A good way to acclimate the animals in your tank to brighter lights without moving the colals would be use 2 pieces of window screen. Then remove 1 then the other over a few weeks.

 

[TRDfan]

I think most of this concern is dependent on the animals currently housed in the tank. Without that, it's tough to say what their reaction would be.

My current stock are Stylo, birdsnest, monti caps, RBTA, hammer, dunkin, GSP, mushrooms, different zoas/palys...ect. Pretty much a mixed reef.

I believe the Nova light has two switches operating 4 bulbs and 2 bulbs independently.
So you can run 4 bulbs at first and it will be a little brighter than your current setup due to the parabolic reflectors. After a while you can turn the other switch on for a short duration, increasing this time until fully acclimated. That time would depend on your livestock.
Use two timers, one for each bank of lights, that way you can have a constant photo period.
I had that light and it was great, but the fans were a little noisy.

Thought the switches might control 3 and 3 bulb configeration. This is news to me. As far as the lighting fixture, it seems like they are discontinuing it. So acouple of sites are selling them close to $200. So i had to jump on it

I trying to figure out why the Tek and nova pro 6 lamp systems are being discontinued

A good way to acclimate the animals in your tank to brighter lights without moving the colals would be use 2 pieces of window screen. Then remove 1 then the other over a few weeks.

I was told about this method and was debaiting on it

 

[Imbarrie]

That is a good deal on that light.
I had the Nova 6 bulb and the TEK Elite 6 bulb. Maybe it was the TEK that had the 4 and 2.
The Tek was far superior in my opinion if you could get that for a good price.

 

[TRDfan]

The tek elite is still $310 + $56 for the tank bracket/mount + the plus cost of bulbs ....so I opted to go with the NEP

 

[Imbarrie]

In this hobby you get what you pay for. But i understand why you would go for the NEP.

 

[TRDfan]

I too believe in ur point. My thought process was that I don't plan on keeping many tough sps in my 65g and I plan on moving upto a 150DD in the next 1-2yrs. So it made sense for me to spend $225, rather than $500 and sell the fixture when I upgrade