Acclimating to new lights

[Awibrandy]

I had been running 3 X 175 watt 10K XM along with VHO 160watt 1 super actinic 1 white for a year, then I went to Reflux SE on an old Hamilton fixture. I recently purchased an AquaMedic light fixture 3 X 250 watt MH DE with 4 X 24 watt PC for which I purchased Helios 250 watt 20K and 2 Blue 2 White PC. I don't really like the 2 Blue PC, but I love the Helios ( Thank You Steve)..

Now the old fixture stood much higher then the newer one. The lamps on the old fixture sat 6" above the canopy which means they were a total of 12" above the water surface.
The new fixture is much lower having the lamps sitting approximately 6" above the water surface. So not only did I increase the wattage, but also lowered them closer to the water surface.

Now this is how I am trying to acclimate my tanks inhabitants. Please if I am doing this wrong, or if you have a better way feel free to say so. I am open to all suggestions................

MH on 5 PM, off 6 PM, on 9 PM, off 10 PM yesterday

On 5 PM, off 7 PM, on 9 PM, off 10 PM today through Wednesday.

On 5 PM, off 8 PM, on 9 PM, off 10 PM Thursday through Sunday.

On 5 PM, off 9 PM Monday through Wednesday.

On 5 PM, off 10 PM Thursday forward.

And no weekly water change until acclimation is done?

Also find a way to modify the canopy so that the fixture sits higher?
Please tell me what you guys/gals think.... have 1 coral (elegance) not looking happy, may have to move that one off to the side or something..

Thanks for your time and support.....

 

[KathyC]

IMO that is too fast and you have a good chance of burning your corals. Keep in mind that your old fixture probably also had older bulbs(?), so you are dealing with new bulbs and an extra 250W (3 x 75W per bulb) on top of that, AND the 6"reduction ofthe bulbs height above the corals. Going to take some time for them to get used to that.

I'd suggest fiberglass window screening be placed on the top of the tank is at least 2 layers though 3 might be better, and remove 1 piece per week. I'd also go with the reduced lighting period, but would wait 3 days or so between the hourly increases.

Once you see corals start to react in a negative way, there is a chance they have already sustained damage
Why chance it -- go S L O W L Y

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/26605-light-acclimation-corals.html

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you much Kat, Brendan!

By the way the elegance may be po at the lower lighting from the PC. VHO were soooooooooooo much brighter.

 

[Awibrandy]

Chief, Kat, I got the 3 layers of fiberglass screen in place of which I will remove 1 per week.
The blocks is a bit harder though. I don't believe I have anything that can subsitute for the 3 layers of block you used Chief. Is this crucial? Should I bite the bullet and go purchase some 2 X 2?
I'll reduce the MH lighting period down to 1 or 2 hours for the first 3 days and increase it by 30 min here in until I'm back up to the original 5 hours.

 

[Awibrandy]

So I've put 5 layers of Fiberglass Window Screening material, which I roll out just before 5 PM while the MH are on. Nothing the PC time since the tank is already dim enough with them.

The plan is to remove 1 layer of the screen weekly.jeezzzz If you could only see how dark my tank is.
I'm wondering how in the world are my corals going to survive without sufficient lighting for 5 weeks coupled with the lowered photo period.

 

[Awibrandy]

Time to replace the old bulbs.

I hated having to deal with the window screening the last time, and would like a different method this time around.

This time around I have not upgraded, just simply changing out 1 year old 250 20K Helios for 250 20K EVS bulbs because no one is carrying Helios any longer. I have been told by PA & a member here that EVS & Helios are actually the same bulb just that EVS is better made.

Is there another way to acclimate the corals to the new bulb other then using the window screen?
Can I just shorten the time the MH are on, and increase daily by an hour, or 1/2 and hour until I reach the usual 5 hours a day?