Changing refelctors and bulbs, help me keep my acros alive

ocd_mariner · #1 12/16/2007, 02:27 PM

Im currently running 400w radium SE 20Ks on a PFO HQI ballast, which are about 6 months old, on crappy spider reflectors. Im going to be changing the bulbs to Reeflux SE 12Ks on lumenarc mini reflectors. The tank is your standard 120g, 24" deep.

I have about 95% stonies in the tank and I sure dont want to torch them by when I put the new equipment on. How do you all go about doing this? Also, my lighting is retrofitted into a canopy, so it would be tough to raise them.

Thanks for any suggestions.

TCU Reefer · #2 12/16/2007, 03:25 PM

If raising your lighting is not an option, you could always try to diffuse the light with egg crate or something similar. Also, you should probably consider a shorter photo period to get your corals use to the intensity of your new setup. Just take it slow.

d4a2n0k · #3 12/16/2007, 05:01 PM

You could always change the reflectors but use the old bulbs for a few weeks. I know first hand that just the change from a spider reflector to Lumenarc Minis is a huge step up by itself. I couldnt believe the difference in intensity and spread.

Then after a few weeks, put the new bulbs in.

ocd_mariner · #4 12/16/2007, 07:29 PM

I was thinking of that as well d4a, changing either the bulb or reflector first.

I think I will take that approach as well as trying to difuse the light on a shorter photoperiod for a few days.

flyyyguy · #5 12/16/2007, 08:34 PM

I just say do it all at once and drop your photoperiod to 2.5 or 3 hours or soto start....... add 30 minutes every week.

Im a fan of maxing out each tanks potential photoperiod as much as possible......andby contiunuing to add slowly until it appears you have went slightly too far...then you can take it back to what was good and be left with the best photperiod for your system

jmo