Tank Break in period under new MH's?

[Kevin Day]

I decided recently that keeping SPS corals in a mixed reef was something that interested me. The problem was that my setup was only VHO's. I picked up a few small sps frags while on thanksgiving break, and got they halide installed yesterday. I read a couple people's experiences with upgrading lighting, and they said to cut back the photo period for "a while" to keep from burning the corals and to let them adjust. My question is, how long is "a while?" Also, Someone suggested slowly increasing the photoperiod.

Tell me if this sounds bad: I plan on running the Halide for 2.5 hours today and tomorrow and then stepping up to 3. I would go up by 30 minutes every other day until the desired photoperiod is reached. Does that sound over cautious? Could I do 30 minutes every day?

Suggestions please.

 

[liquid]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

I'd go slow. I ramped my photoperiod back up to full duration in one week. I lost a clam, a brain (trachyphelia goeffry sp?), and xenia (good ridance).

I'd go with the every other day method. I only cut mine back to about 5 hours a day, so you are being a little safer going all the way down to 2 1/2.

HTH

Louey

 

[Kristen Marie]

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[caecosystems]

Keep in mind this is only another opinion, but.......ere on the side of caution....always. I would start your halides at 2 hours per day (i assume that your vho's are still going?) and increase 1 hour PER WEEK. It works every time I do it. WHY NOT? There should be no rush to run your lights up. That will give the corals plenty of time to deal with it. I think a matter of days is too short.