Reducing Photoperiods for Acclimating
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auqua man
Well-known member
I will be taging along on this one Ron.
I only shorten the photoperiod when changing bulbs. Usually go from week to week. If I remember right, it takes about a month to get back to normal.
The Apprentice
Well-known member
Good advice Ron.
Hi Ron I have done this every time I have had to change bulb whether going up or down in Kelvin Temperature just because the bulbs were new. This quote from Cheeks 69 post back in 05 was told to me By Kevin When I set up my tanks and has worked very well each time I hope it helps you as well...Jeff
Quote:
if it is a lighting issue, do you think a couple of sheets of screen material on the top of the tank would cause them to darken in coloration again?
It would Nikki. I think that cutting the halide photo period back to about 3-4 hours a day would be easier, save electricity, and be more convenient.
Regards,
Kevin
__________________
SPS Guy Quote:
Hi Ron I have done this every time I have had to change bulb whether going up or down in Kelvin Temperature just because the bulbs were new. This quote from Cheeks 69 post back in 05 was told to me By Kevin When I set up my tanks and has worked very well each time I hope it helps you as well...Jeff
Quote:
if it is a lighting issue, do you think a couple of sheets of screen material on the top of the tank would cause them to darken in coloration again?
It would Nikki. I think that cutting the halide photo period back to about 3-4 hours a day would be easier, save electricity, and be more convenient.
Regards,
Kevin
__________________
SPS Guy Quote:
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The Apprentice
Well-known member
Another good point!
Thanks for adding the duration Charlie! I have increased the time slowly as the How the corals looked More importantly My Long Tentacle Anemone, Purple - Macrodactyla doreensis would seem to be more of a Indicator for lighting control for my sps tank...
Ron It seemed I would wait 4-6 days then increase my time a 1/2 hour then waited 3-4 days and increased again till i got to 9 hours This has been the best practice for me ...HTH Jeff
Thanks for adding the duration Charlie! I have increased the time slowly as the How the corals looked More importantly My Long Tentacle Anemone, Purple - Macrodactyla doreensis would seem to be more of a Indicator for lighting control for my sps tank...
Ron It seemed I would wait 4-6 days then increase my time a 1/2 hour then waited 3-4 days and increased again till i got to 9 hours This has been the best practice for me ...HTH Jeff
That is hard to say Ron, IME no. You are going to run your supplemantal lighting, aren't you?
OK,.............................
How long were you planning your photoperiod to be, in the end result?
Or, could you figure a way to mount some vho in between your reflectors? Just throwing out some ideas here.
How long were you planning your photoperiod to be, in the end result?
Or, could you figure a way to mount some vho in between your reflectors? Just throwing out some ideas here.
I looked at the placement of your reflectors in your other thread Ron, and I really think you have room in there for some supplemental lighting while you are acclimating your stuff to the new lites, even if it is only temporary. If you could place a couple of fans in there, to keep the heat down to dull roar, I think you would be OK. This is just my opinion, but I think your corals would really appreciate some extra lite in the acclimation period.
cheeks69
Well-known member
No it doesn't hurt the corals if you reduce the photoperiod but I can assure you that if you don't shorten it they WILL be harmed. What I would do since you don't have actinic supplements is I would set each bulb on a timer to turn on and shut off at different times.
DonW
R.I.P.
Ron you can reduce par by as much as 50% just by raising the lights 2".
Don
Don
He has them in his canopy Don, so I don't know if that is an option.
DonW
R.I.P.
God I hate getting old.
yeah, i can raise them..i have an open top canopy...i may put a top on at a later time, but for now, i can raise them..i will raise them a few extra inches and move the corals down as well..also, my XM 10k is in the middle of the tank..there are 2 large glass panels over the center acting as a center brace..these should reduce it some as well, i believe..also, the 2-14k bulbs have been used for about 6months..Brenden gave them to me with some reflectors that i got from him..that should also help some
SueT
Well-known member
yes, Ron, that will definitely help. When I change out bulbs I raise my canopy 2 links, which are about 4-5" long. As the bulbs burn in I lower them 1 link at a time. I have never had any problems in loosing any corals doing it this way. Any frags that I add are always placed on the botton in the sand bed and slowly moved up according to the lighting they were under. I run my halides 10 hours a day and haven't shortened it any but raising and lowering the canopy is a great deal.
SueT
Well-known member
thats when you stock up on the sun screen!!!!
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