Better way to acclimate?

[KathyC]

Hey folks I wanted some opinions on acclimating my corals to my new bulbs.
I know some folks do it by shortening their lighting period at first and others use the 'screen' method.
I currently have 3 layers of fiberglass screening over the tank while the MH's are on. Approximately how long do I leave on each layer before I remove it..or should I just go with the shorter photo-period?

The new bulbs are Ushio 250W 10K DE bulbs (old ones were Phoenix 14K's and they're about 9 month's old) I also run 4 - 48" T5 Blue Plus actinics. Tank is a 120..24" deep.

I also understand that the burn in time for these bulbs is about 100 hours..they are soooo yellow right now...anyone have experience with these particular bulbs on the burn in time?
Thanks!

 

[cali_reef]

Ushio's 250W DE 10K bulbs I used always appears "yellow" to me, it never got any whiter or blue.

Shorter lighting period is all I ever do, the screen thing or raising the pendents seems like too much work. I reposition corals after changing lighting setup to make sure they stay happy.

 

[mshur]

Kathy,
i would cut down on photoperiod. IMO its the safest way
I never run 250w , but i had 400w ushios and they were yellow to my eye.. It all depends what you like Some folks love XM's -10k ,but they even more yellow then ushios..Keep in mind, you going from 14k ham ( i think they dim) to 10k ushios witch is very bright bulb.

mike

 

[KathyC]

Thanks for the info Pierce & Mike..
Pierce..argh..did you run actinics with them to kill some of the yellow when you had them? From my research before chosing these bulbs I understood that the 4 actinics would help balance that out some. I strongly dislike the bulbs that are yellowish, but want to increase my growth rate.
Is this a rock & a hard place situation?
Mike..I think I will go with the shorter photo-period method as I don't think that screening allows to tank to breath as much and the actinics can't to their job as well with the screening on there.. Looking forward to them being a brighter bulb..just not the yellow.. The prior ones were Phoenix and they were very blue!

Thanks!

Anyone else? :flower:

 

[reefman]

i favor raising the lights method if its feasible. this may b a problem for non-wire hanging setups.
being that the change in new bulbs r stronger in term of intensity, not the duration time of exposure.
i would lower the lighting according to how the corals responds to change.

 

[cali_reef]

I have always used two 110W VHO actinics with two 250W DE pendents on my old 5 foot 120g tank, otherwise the tank looks like it is filled with pee water .

 

[prattreef]

Why didn't you go with the Ushio 14K's????

 

[KathyC]

I have always used two 110W VHO actinics with two 250W DE pendents on my old 5 foot 120g tank, otherwise the tank looks like it is filled with pee water .

Thanks Pierce ..I'll cross my fingers that my 4 T5's will balance them out enough that I won't totally hate them.....sigh...

RD..WHAT???? I thought we were talking about the 10K's....double sigh..

Reefman, Yes, I agree that would be a better way to go & agree with your thought process on it. My fixture is hung from the ceiling and is adjustable BUT it weighs 49 pounds, scares the heck out of me when I do have to move it, and if I raise it above the opening where it nestles in my canopy (look at my 120 tank thread)..my corals won't get any light at all due to the design. I'm stuck with timing or screening as choices...

Ok then...I'll see what kind of growth I get, tell myself that I like my water to look yellow..and contemplate buying the correct bulbs the next time, or sooner....

 

[fluidimagery]

I vote the screening method.

I just used it on my tank when i tried switching over from the 175w 12k reeflux to the 175w 10k reeflux. It doesnt' sound like much but it's A LOT whiter than the 12k. I took a 2' x 4' piece of egg crate (light diffuser) and layed 2 coats of window screening (I'm assuming that's the same as your fiberglass screen) over the light diffuser. I took 1 layer of screening off each week, then took another week with just the light diffuser (3 weeks total). Corals seemed to acclimate fine however the kicker was that I decided I didn't like the stadium lighting the 10ks put out so I went back to the 12ks. I don't run any actinic though, just 2 x 175w.

I just feel that the corals are still going to take a hit whether the new lights are on them full blast for 1 hour or 10 hours (obviously much less of one at 1). Getting them used to the color difference first (14k to 10k) then to the intensity using the screening seems like a better approach.

I didn't have the option of raising the lights and my sps are encrusted on the rocks so I couldn't move them lower in the tank so I was forced to use the screen but it seemed to work fine.

 

[prattreef]

If you you are trying to emulate my lighting --Ushio 250W 14K DE.

 

[KathyC]

I was. I admit it..I screwed it up
Think I should post on the Whaaa thread?

 

[prattreef]

Whaaa not?

 

[Bob 1000]

My first mh was a 400 watt 10k and oh man..... I jump at the reeflux 12k....My tank looked like a well lit bar bathroom toilet....But still get the same growth. I think your looking for them to grow as fast as you look at them maybe, I did that for about 1 month...Then I started recording the growth rate and came up with my theory...Wow that sounded a little intelligent:Hydrogen: Nahhh I'm just an acro fein...

 

[KathyC]

Whaaa not?

LMAO..

My tank looked like a well lit bar bathroom toilet....

Wow that sounded a little intelligent

Let's just say that parts of it did Bob Do want some increased growth but wanted color! Seriously considering ordering the right ones & pulling these out & keeping as emergency spares...

and Bob..what's a fein???? :spin:

 

[Bob 1000]

I meant to right...Aww hell I don't know the correct spelling of phene...Like crack feen..Or heroine addict...Oh wow I just realized how hard it is to be understood on the puter....lol

 

[bad coffee]

Why spend the money on the electric bill just to filter out the light?

reduce your photo period, and save some cash.

And is this what you're talking about, Bob?
B

 

[vanceny]

Screening method is the correct acclimation to use. The increased intensity is what will harm them even if its just for an hour. The way it was explanied to me was that if you were exposed to the sun during its most hottest time, it wouldn't matter if it was just for a few minutes. The damage would already be done.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Are you trying to say fiend?

 

[ellebelle]

What kind of window screening are you using? I assume this is something other than just egg crate.

 

[fluidimagery]

Same screening you'd use on a screen door, or window. Home Depot or Lowes sells it by the spool.

I lay it on top of egg crating.