Help!

[steven11]

It has been over a week since i put an HQI on my tank and my corals will not come out. The tank is a 10gal and it is a 250w HQI. My corals are all softies. I hav the light hanging about 14 inches away from the surface of the water and i only run the light for about 5 hours. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Steven

 

[LakeEd]

Steven,

What type lighting did you have over that little 10 gallon tank befor this new killer 250w HQI? How were your softies responding then?

This may be a little much for only a 10 gallon tank, hopefully others with experience with smaller tanks will chime in here.

 

[btuck]

I agree with Ed that seems like a lot of light over that small of a tank. I would imagine that your corals aren't coming out because they are getting "burnt".

 

[Scooterman]

Seems like you needed to slow it down & acclimate them even more, did you put a screen over the top, egg crate or anything to reduce the intensity?

 

[shallowreef]

I agree on that being a bit too much light over a 10gal but i would try shading the light with sheets of acrylic or egcrate.

 

[BCT182]

Hey Steven I can help you with that. I have a sheet of acrylic you can have, and we can cut it to size. I can bring it over tonight. I was also thinking, have you been watching your temp? I was just wondering if maybe the light had jacked the temp up to above 85 or something?

 

[Krish]

I agree with all the above posts. The big shift in wattage alone could be the killer and then also just simply the actual wattage. Some corals just don't require as intense lighting as others which is why they sit under ledges etc in the wild to get out of direct light. I'd try acclimating them to the new lighting slowly and see how they respond to the full spectrum afterwards. If still nothing, then you will probably have to minimize the lighting for them all together

 

[Skimmy]

time to change up to sps, clams, or an anemone...lol

 

[steven11]

Thats what im thinking skimmer!
I am going to try a piece of acrylic and see if that helps. Thanks for all of the help.

Steven

 

[returnofsid]

Either turn down the lighting or offer your corals some sun-glasses. They probably can't handle the amount of light.

 

[Detri]

Well, in the words of Sanjay Joshi. You are over powering your tank with light.

I would either raise your lights to 26"-30" from the lowest point of your tank. Or, down grade to a 150w (which still could be to strong.) Or, Get a little bigger tank.

 

[steven11]

I raised the light and BCT helped me with putting a piece of acrylic over the top. It seems to have made a world of difference. All of the star polyps and toad stool and mushrooms have come out. Seems to have done the trick.

Thanks for the help,
Steven

 

[BCT182]

Good man! Im glad that worked. My acyrlic skills are improving huh? We need a pic man!

 

[Brenden]

Time for a tank upgrade. You have the light for it.

 

[Meche]

Time for a tank upgrade. You have the light for it.

Its a vicious cycle.

 

[steven11]

You guys are killin me. I started a 10 gal for a reason. you can only spend and loose so much. Right Brett.....

 

[BCT182]

You guys are killin me. I started a 10 gal for a reason. you can only spend and loose so much. Right Brett.....

Trying not to loose anything:lol: