30 day acclimation enough?

[Nemo1]

I have a 150 breeder gallon SPS system which has been running for 4 years. This tank is only 16" deep from the top of the sandbed to the top of the water. The tank has had solid parameters for three years and appears to be very stable.

I am upgrading my lighting from 3 X 175 german 10K bell pendants to a hood with 3 X 250W 65K iwasaki's with PFO reflectors. I am also going to use 2 X 5" VHO actintics on the new system.

I am going away for two weeks in December and am worried about changing my lighting. Is 30 days a long enough period to get my tank acclimated to this new lighting? If so what would you recomend for an acclimation schedule ( ex: raise lights, reduction of photo period)?


Thanks,
Nemo

 

[THillson]

The two things you mentioned (raising hood and reduction of photo period) will both work. When ever I change my MH (two 400W 10K) I decrease the photo period by three hours. I then increase by one hour every week until I'm back to normal. I don't do anything when I change the VHO's. Three 175 10K to three 250W 65K will be a dramatic change. If possible I'd go for the "raising the lights" option. I would think that things could acclimate in 30 days. If not, you could just leave the lights raised while you were gone.