Light shock

[Mattl22]

I'm thinking of upgrading my light fixture from 2 x 150 watt mh
To 2 x 250 watt mh I have mostly sps frags will they bleach due to light shock when I switch fixtures ?)????

Need answers quickly
Thanks

 

[lfsmarineguy]

not if you drop them down a little bit in the tank and then move them back up slowly. It shouldn't be too bad unless you are also going from crappy brand bulbs and fixture to a much better setup. just take your time moving them back up and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Just put a window screen over the tank for a week or two

 

[THEDLO]

not if you drop them down a little bit in the tank and then move them back up slowly. It shouldn't be too bad unless you are also going from crappy brand bulbs and fixture to a much better setup. just take your time moving them back up and you shouldn't have any problems.

+1 i went from VHOs to 250w MH (lol like protein to steroids) and i put everything on the sand bed and spent 2 weeks moving things back where they were. but mine was a much more dramatic change then 150-250w.

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

+ 1 on both answers.

 

[THEDLO]

Just put a window screen over the tank for a week or two

huh. thats sounds genius! not having to move coral! :splitspin

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I posted this on RC when I went from 250 to 400 and it worked great a lot of other people agred

 

[albano]

if possible, just mount the light fixture, higher, and gradually lower it over 30-60 days...leave the corals, where they are!

.

 

[Mattl22]

After two weeks with the screen u just take it off??


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[KathyC]

After two weeks with the screen u just take it off??

No. Actually you use multiple layers of window screen and take one off every 4 days or so and they will gradually get used to the stronger lighting. For the last layer it is also good if you cut your lighting by a few hours a day and gradually increase that back to where it used to be time wise.

 

[masterswimmer]

After two weeks with the screen u just take it off??


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You can use multiple layers of screens to start. After a week take a layer off. Continue removing one layer of screen each week.

I prefer this method combined with raising the light over moving corals, which isn't always an option.

Russ

 

[MIKE NY]

all good options also I cut the hours down to about 2-3 hours and then slowly increase back up to 6-8 hours a day over a month or so...

 

[Mattl22]

Mike do u think this option alone would work


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[Chris Jury]

Using multiple screens and removing one every few days works, but agreed with Russ, it's strongly preferred to raise the light fixture and lower it slowly (say an inch every 4-5 days) if possible to do so. You'd be surprised how much light window screen blocks out, making the jumps in lighting a little large with every screen you take off. However, if it's not possible to raise the lights, this is a good method.

cj

 

[cthoughts1]

all good options also I cut the hours down to about 2-3 hours and then slowly increase back up to 6-8 hours a day over a month or so...

This has worked well for me on my 150 to 250 watt mh upgrade. In fact I went from 7 hours a day to 3 hour a day of MH and left the actinic on the rest of the time. Within 2 weeks I was back up to 7 hours a day with no ill effect at all. I don't like the idea of moving the corals around, IMO this often does more harm than good.

 

[Mattl22]

Moving coarls not an option they are all set with coral putty


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[Chiefmcfuz]

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

 

[MIKE NY]

Mike do u think this option alone would work


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yea it worked for me..from PCs to 175 MHs to 250 MHs..I don't like to move corals around either once they are encrusted down.