Forced to switch to MH tomorrow - Questions.

[Nashon]

After 2 years my Icecap 430 died last night and I can either replace it or finally put in the 3 250w MH lights I've been meaning to use ever since I put my first coral in the tank. In order to do this I have to ditch my current 6" hood for a new 12" tall one that i'm building today. I'm trying to finish this asap so my coral doesnt wilt away without any light. The bulbs arent going to be adjustable heightwise very easily, I've made the brackets so they should sit at 10" from the top of the acrylic.

I've got 2 RBTAs about 10" across, a bunch of Hammer and Frogspawn, misc polyps and leathers, cabbage coral and octobubble.

What acclimation schedule should I use? Full light for only a short few hours each day, increasing it each week? Or screening below the lights for the full 8 hours?

Because this is a bit unexpected I will be using a pair of old 6500k bulbs to start with until I can buy 14k ones, anyone in the Bellevue area have an old 250w mogul socket bulb laying around I can use in my 3rd ballast for a bit?

I plan on eventually getting a new icecap ballast for the 2 x 72" bulbs im running now to use as actinic supplements. The hood is very narrow and long (12"x88") how close to the halides can the VHO bulbs be? Is it possible to melt a VHO tube?

What are the chances of melting the acrylic braces? I have euro-style bracing as well as 5 cross braces. Will 10" above them be enough? Do i need to add a heck of a lot of fans to avoid that? Already there are 2 computer fans in the current hood running to keep moisture buildup to a minimum, im hoping they will be enough for the halides.

Thanks for any answers you can give.

 

[JMacIII]

I made the switch to MH about 3 months ago.
Do you have an acrylic cover for your tank? I used a sheet of acrylic so the lights were not as direct on the corals.

I started my acclimation at having my halides on for 3 hours, then I added 1 hour (1/2 hour on each end of the cycle) each day until I got to my desired light time (I currently run my halides for 10.5 hours).

After a week on the full cycle I took out the acrylic cover.

I use 2 computer fans in my hood and my lights are about 10" above the tank. My halides are only 2 175w's and I do not have a probable with the tank's acrylic heating up, but I will add 2 more fans. I still get a little variance in my temperature do to the lights.

I hope this helps, Jim

 

[Elmo18]

Nashon can you post a pic of your RBTA for me when you have the time?

Best,
Ilham

 

[Jiddy]

About the IceCap ballast, in case you didnt know: you can have them repair it for $45 dollars *you ship* and they will get it back to you in about 2wks, mine were so old they werent under warranty but they are pretty cool at IceCap, FYI

 

[Nashon]

Jim - Thanks, if yours is fine at 10" mine should be too I hope. Only the middle bulb will be directly over a brace.

It looks like its $65 to repair it but thats alot better than buying a new one. Thanks Jiddy. Ill send that in next week.

Ilham - Ill take a pic of them this afternoon after work.

 

[mfinn]

Nashon, if you do go with mh, try this. Get a layer of eggcrate, and on top of that place 4 layers of window screen material. Every 4-5 days remove one layer. That should acclimate your corals just fine. I would still have the mh lights on for the full amount of time you usually have your lights on.

 

[Nashon]

I've got to mention that Saltwater City has been nothing but great to me. They've given me a Icecap 430 to use until the new hood is finished.

I think the mesh/eggcrate is the way to go. Thanks alot for the help guys.


Oh Ilham here you go. They were all shriveled up when I got home and just started opening from the light. They have white striations, quite interesting.

 

[Elmo18]

Nice nashon. If you get a chance take a photo or photos when they're fully open

When you have time of course...

- Ilham

 

[The Apprentice]

Great Pictures Nashon

I hope you have good luck with the New halides and It was pretty cool that Saltwater City They've given you a Icecap 430 to use says some thing about your LFS!

 

[Nashon]

Ok Ilham, they opened up today. Are you just an anemone afficianado or are you looking for something in particular?

 

[Elmo18]

Yeah im looking for different strains of the rbta's.

Can you tell me where yours is from? I'd love to do a trade, etc for one of them if you would like.

Best,
Ilham