T5 burn-in and tank acclimation

[DLHDesign]

The recent BRS group buy resulted in me having a few new dimmable T5 fixtures and the bulbs to fit in them. My tank currently has 3x Radion G3 XR15's over it and my plan is to add the T5's to the mix by reducing the LED output and adding in the T5's - likely at less than 100% for 6-8hrs a days.

There are two things that seem to conflict, however:
1) Bulb "burn in". According to what I've read several times, I want to run the new bulbs for 50hrs before I dim them. Failing to do this will reduce their life (and potentially effectiveness?).
2) Coral conditioning. In an ideal world, I'd ramp up the T5's while ramping down the LEDs over the course of weeks.

I've yet to build out the hood, much less mount the T5's to anything (they just arrived today), so in theory I could just plug in the bulbs out in the garage or something and burn them in that way, I suppose...
That'll work for this set of bulbs, but how will I do the same for new bulbs in the future?

 

[Lonny]

Just got a dimmable sunpower and was wondering the same thing. Following along

 

[mcarroll]

It's an accumulation of 50 hours....doesn't have to be all at once. Just reduce the photoperiod (like the old days) to compensate until you've clocked 50 hours.

 

[Rick.45cal]

I'd make sure that you have some nutrients in the water when you increase the intensity of the lighting. It will increase the difference in the redfield ratio and nitrogen in particular will become in high demand. Don't want a bleaching incident!

 

[Lonny]

I don't mean to high jack the thread but I have a question. I upgraded from a four bulb cheap t5 fixture to an 8 bulb sunpower. I can't run this at 100% yet. I'm currently running it at 50%. Is the difference in bulb life that great? If so I guess I'll have to sacrifice this set till I can run it at 100%

 

[Rick.45cal]

You could always run it at 100% and raise the fixture above it's final height, then lower the light to it's final position in increments.

Mcarroll has a link to a scientific paper regarding what differences occur when corals change from a low light environment to a high light environment. I'll let him give a more precise synopsis than I can from memory.

 

[Lonny]

Didn't think about that. I can raise the fixture a foot and a half above where is at now. It's ten inches awl at the moment. Thanks.

I'd love to read the write up in that link.

 

[mcarroll]

I think you're talking about amino acid intake going up once a fairly minimal light level is met. Some corals don't vary intake at all based on light though...they consume more or less consistently on this basis, so it's not a universal truth.

Particulate feedings also have a negative impact on dissolved nutrient uptake. Interestingly (but from another source), slightly boosted PO4 levels apparently boost NO3 consumption as well.

I think it was one of the links in post #64 of the diy amino acid thread, BTW.

 

[mcarroll]

A note about the PO4 link:
High Phosphate Requirements…

 

[Rick.45cal]

I was actually referring to this one... https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/2241

 

[mcarroll]

Oh yeah!! Too many good links – thanks for the refresh on that one!

 

[mcarroll]

Here's where that came up recently: #11


And another pair of articles that should be interesting posted here: #5

 

[mcarroll]

I've noticed in a few articles, BTW, it seems that coral's photo-acclimation period is a known, established quantity. I didn't save where it was I saw it, unfortunately. I'm sure google scholar can tell us, or at least give us an idea.

 

[john.m.cole3]

You could always run it at 100% and raise the fixture above it's final height, then lower the light to it's final position in increments.

Mcarroll has a link to a scientific paper regarding what differences occur when corals change from a low light environment to a high light environment. I'll let him give a more precise synopsis than I can from memory.

this would be my recommendation as well. raise the fixture and intensity

 

[DLHDesign]

Only challenge with the "raise the fixture" idea is that the canopy the lights will (eventually) be in will be mounted to the wall. e.g.; can't really be raised/lowered.

Plus, I'm thinking about not just these initial bulbs, but also the ones in the future that will replace the first ones.

 

[DereksReef77]

When it comes time to change out the bulbs I believe you only want to do it one at a time. If not running at 100% all the time then buy a cheap unit to burn them in prior to changing them.

 

[Lonny]

Well the burn in went well. I raised the light up as far as I could ran them at 100% for 50hrs. Never saw any adverse affects in my coral! Thanks fir the good advice everyone!

 

[DLHDesign]

If not running at 100% all the time then buy a cheap unit to burn them in prior to changing them.

I think this will be my approach - just get a single cheap fixture and burn in new bulbs before adding them into the mix. I'll burn-in the first batch before I hang the canopy so that I can ramp them up slowly (and the LEDs down) once they are in place.

I don't suppose there's any harm in burning new bulbs in, then storing them, is there? Eg; Order a replacement set, burn them in, then hold them until I need them?
Also; any suggestions for a cheap, non-dimmable single fixture? I got the double retrofit fixtures from BRS, but I don't need the double set...

 

[cmcoker]

I think this will be my approach - just get a single cheap fixture and burn in new bulbs before adding them into the mix. I'll burn-in the first batch before I hang the canopy so that I can ramp them up slowly (and the LEDs down) once they are in place.

I don't suppose there's any harm in burning new bulbs in, then storing them, is there? Eg; Order a replacement set, burn them in, then hold them until I need them?
Also; any suggestions for a cheap, non-dimmable single fixture? I got the double retrofit fixtures from BRS, but I don't need the double set...

https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ

This or similar. I'd check out hydroponic fixtures or even a home depot t5 fixture..

 

[Rick.45cal]

This thread makes me thankful that the 60" fixtures aren't dimmable. This isn't a problem I have had to solve!

Sounds like you should really invest in an appropriate sized frag tank to go under that fixture that you are going to use to burn in the new bulbs with! Isn't that how this hobby works?