switching to MH need help

[chefmur]

I am switching from T5 ( 6 x 54w) to 2 x 250 watt radium 20K MH. The MH bulbs will be about 10 inches from the water mounted in a canopy so I will not be able to move them farther away from the water surface > I am concerned about burning my sps, I remember reading somewhere before you can add some screen or eggcrate or something to diffuse the light for a while to let your corals get used to the stronger light. Any thoughts, sugestions will be appreciated.
Thanks Mike

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Hi there! I ran my Radiums even closer than that so in that regards you will be ok. But yes you may need to acclimate them. You can use screen for screen windows from Home Depot or Lowes.

 

[tike]

What size is your tank? Are you sure you need 2 250 watters? Just wondering also why you are switching?

 

[GAtroutbum]

I'm running 2 ea 400w radiums on a 90 gal SPS tank with no problems. Got them sitting 4"~6" up off the the water. Getting great growth but also plenty of evaporation!

 

[BlueDartReefer]

I am running three 400W MH's approximately 10" off the water. For acclimation, I started the bulbs at 250W for three hours a day for a week, four hours for the next week and 6 hours a day after that. I then turned the ballasts up to 400W for a few of the six hours for another two weeks. During this time I kept a close eye on the various coral and how they responded to the increased lighting. For the pieces that couldn't handle the intense lighting, I used multiple pieces of window screening on top of my fish screens. I can grow SPS in the sand and at the surface. I have left pieces of screen where needed.

 

[Troylee]

T5's are powerful I doubt you will have any problems... To be safe just start them 4 hours a day then bump it up a hour a week until you get the photoperiod you want..

 

[butts182]

T5's are powerful I doubt you will have any problems... To be safe just start them 4 hours a day then bump it up a hour a week until you get the photoperiod you want..

I agree with Lee. You probably won't need any light acclimation time, but to be safe do what he said.