New lighting

[dwebb1031]

So I have a 75g mix reef system that's been up for about a year and a half. I have been running two h.o. Led strips for the duration it's been up, good health great colors. Tomorrow I will be upgrading to an odyssea 2x 150w metal halide/power compact unit (wanting to see if sps growth while increase). My question being new to MH lighting is how high above the tank should these lights sit, and what kind of reaction from corals can I expect while they acclimate to the new lighting. Currently closest corals to the top are mostly sps (roughly 4-6" from the surface) and couple of toad stools. About 3-4" below that are some zoas and a Duncan, and the rest of the coral mostly lps (frogspawn, acans, blasto) sit belo

w those between 8-10" down from the surface if not lower.

 

[Reefing Madness]

8-12" off the water would be quite fine.
If you were running LEDs, then there won't be any acclimation needed when you switch over to Halides.

 

[dwebb1031]

I was told not to run the halides at all for a week and to gradually work them in in half hour increments every few days or so your thoughts?

 

[Reefing Madness]

imo, its the other way around. LEDs are more intense than Halides, thus corals need the acclimating to them not Halides, and especially not 150w Halides.

 

[dwebb1031]

So do you run halides or led on your tank/s and what growth like for you.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I used top run 250w Halides, 20k lamps.
I currently run LEDs.
I only run with Softies, and they grow like weeds anyways, so Im not a good one to get an idea for LPS and SPS coral growth.

 

[dwebb1031]

Right on as usual thanks for sharing your wisdom

 

[dwebb1031]

Old light.

New light loving the coloration.