Light Acclimation

[apedroza]

I just replaced my 14K coralvue bulbs (250w SE) with 12K Reeflux bulbs. DO I need to acclimate my corals to the new light? If so what is the best way to do it. I bumped the on-time from 8hrs to 5hrs and will increase back up 1hr/wk. By the way these reeflux buulbs are the most intense bulbs I have ever seen. They haven't even burned in yet and the blue they give off is insane. If anyone has any recommendations for acclimating my tank to the new lights please chime in.

[apedroza]

No takers??

[SoLiD]

I guess no one knows......

[discuspro]

What I normally do is somehow find a way to lift the new light bulb atleast a foot, or more, from what it normally has been. I've seen the REAL BAD effects of not being careful enough with new bulbs. Other than that just gradually lower the bulb maybe an inch per week, or two weeks to be extra nice to the coral, until it is sitting where you orignally have your bulbs from the tank.

Changing the light duration from 8 to 5 hrs, in my opinion, won't really make a difference to the acclimation, I could be wrong. I would think if a coral is going to be burned it could happen in just a few minutes, but you do have a good point about making the time less for the bulbs to be on. I guess thinking of how we sunburn, the longer you are out in the sun the worse the burn. But if you are under some really intense UV index rays I'm sure burning occurs within a few hours already. I guess to be extra careful using a shorter light period for acclimating won't hurt anything.

I think that is what you are getting at.??

[Texreefer]

all depends on the color of the last bulbs,, if their spectrum had serioulsy degraded then yes acclimation is needed.. if they were still fairly new there should be no problem, i have mine on a pulley system that i can raise and lower easily. however shortening the photo period will work just fine

[apedroza]

The bulbs were 14K and about 8-9mos old. The bulbs actually sit about 12" above the water with no real way to raise them. I will increase the time they're on and keep an eye on my corals.

[discuspro]

Okay. Make sure you watch for any noticable stress signs in the coral like recessed polyps, stringy mucus, and any slight immediate discoloration or fading of color. Once a whole Montipora of mine got bleached and I didn't even know it because I never saw real bleaching before. It turned white but it still lived for a few months until it slowly but surely STN'd.

[SaltyJim]

If you see any signs of stress, just get some light difuser (eggcrate) and put it on the tank top under your lights. I don't think shortening the photo period is going to decrease the intensity of the new bulbs. So, if you are limited to not being able to raise the lights, then add some shade. It really all depends on the intensity of the old bulbs. It sounds to me like the spectrum had not changed on the old ones yet, so hopefully there will not be too much adjustment needed.

BTW, I love my Reefluk 12k SE250's. I've had them since October. The do burn in a little crisper white, so I am thinking of adding actinic back to that tank. I do run them off an OLD PFO magnetic ballast though.

[matt]

Check Sanjay's site to see if both bulbs have been analized. If so, and there's a big difference in PAR, than definitely acclimate your tank to the higher PAR bulb. But your idea of starting with a shorter photo period and gradually increasing it is probably a good one regardless.

[SueT]

I just replaced my 14K coralvue bulbs (250w SE) with 12K Reeflux bulbs. DO I need to acclimate my corals to the new light? If so what is the best way to do it. I bumped the on-time from 8hrs to 5hrs and will increase back up 1hr/wk. By the way these reeflux buulbs are the most intense bulbs I have ever seen. They haven't even burned in yet and the blue they give off is insane. If anyone has any recommendations for acclimating my tank to the new lights please chime in.

Aren't those reeflux crazy... I have not used the 14k's but I have been using the reeflux 10k's for about 6-7 months now and will never use anything else. The blues literally pop out at ya. I'm not sure if Sanjay did the 14's and I'm not sure of the PAR difference between the 14k and reeflux 12k, but I would do some acclimating from what you had to the new lighting. It won't hurt for sure.