Changing MH bulbs

[as1720]

I am swtiching from a stock oddessey 10k to a hamilton 15k buld.

Should i lower my frag rack? i dont want to burn/hurt anything.

 

[Pentagona]

Lower your frag rack for a couple of days and gradually raise it back up over the course of a week or so. Chances are you'll see a little bleaching/browning initially, but you'll reduce the effects dramatically by lowering it initially. You can also shorten your photo period.

 

[as1720]

Thanks for the tip.

Should you do this any time you change an old bulb to a new?

 

[Pentagona]

Absolutely, as your bulbs get older their output degenerates, and while you may not see it with the naked eye neccessarily, if you were to place a light meter under that bulb new, and say 12 months down the road there would be a depriciable difference. When you plug in a new bulb a flick it on it's like adding more light to the coral. It will need to aclimate to the higher intensity.

 

[as1720]

Thats what i thought.

I cant get my frag rack much lower so i will be cutting the time the light is on, i ushualy only have the MH on 6 hours a day how much should i drop it down to?

I really dont want to burn any corals.

 

[Pentagona]

Drop it to half and add an hour every two days.