Bulb change effects
- Thread starter Frank
- Start date
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GPhiAce
Active Member
Yes, this will affect your corals. You should adjust them to the new light (and you should be this any time you change bulbs- IMO). Lower the photoperiod and slowly increase it with time. Or you can use netting or something to screen the light. Or you can just move all your corals down and then up with time. I would suggest the lower photoperiod, it's easier. Good luck. The 20K Radium are great bulbs.
Yes, shorten the photo period, you will like the 20K's you can turn off your Actinics while they are on because they are so blue. I started out with 10K's went to 14k's then to 20K's I love them!!!!!!!!!!!
GPhiAce
Active Member
Yeah, those are some great blue MH bulbs. I have 14k Aquaconnects now because of the PAR and longevity and ATI True Actinic and B+ (I think it is B+). I love just having the actinics on with them. With that combination, my tank is a little bluer than Radiums alone.
Sikryd
hmm...Sweet!
No reason to adjust the photoperiod - you would actually have to increase it or lower your lights.
It will be less par than the 10k's, so it would be the same as raising your 10k's up.
If it was me, I would just throw them in, leave the photoperiod the same and wait a few weeks and see what happens. Then if you aren't getting enough light, lower them accordingly.
There are some ballast/bulb combos that put out a decent amount of par in the 20k range, but not enough to match a 10k.
It will be less par than the 10k's, so it would be the same as raising your 10k's up.
If it was me, I would just throw them in, leave the photoperiod the same and wait a few weeks and see what happens. Then if you aren't getting enough light, lower them accordingly.
There are some ballast/bulb combos that put out a decent amount of par in the 20k range, but not enough to match a 10k.
alien_frag_farm
Active Member
I agree with sikryd. par level should be lower with the 20k, no need to adjust photo period. might notice a little slower growth but better coloration with the 20k.
Steve Ruddy
Active Member
If I were you I would just change the bulbs and leave the rest the same and wait one month. Some corals go through a two stage color change. A not so attractive transitionary change the the final color change. 20K bulbs can develop some very intense fluorescent green pigments that are awsome. I use Radium on my personal display and love the results.
Steve Ruddy
Active Member
He is one I just snapped. This is 250W Radium with one actinic and one actinic/white VHO. I don't like an overly blue tank and the actinic white gives me the look I like.
