Coral acclimation from PC to T5s

[sir_dudeguy]

My current light is 4x96w PC, and i've got an icecap 4x39w T5 HO in the mail and should be here tomorrow.

How do i go about acclimating everything to the new light? I know that i should run shorter hours for one, but what could i use to block light...or do i even need to do that?

 

[papagimp]

did you get the 54w t5's or the 39w like you listed there? I went from 65w PC bulbs to the 54w T5 and saw a nice increase in lighting but going from 96w to 39w t5's, not sure how much acclimating you'll actually need to do. Like penetration will probably be better but I doubt they'll be a whole heck of alot of intensity increase there.

When I made the swap, I hung the light fixture higher than normal and slowly lowered it down as well as used a couple hours less per day, but still had many corals "burn" from the increased lighting.

 

[zma21]

I used plastic window screen when i went from t-5's to halides. Worked well.

 

[Ti]

use that mesh screening stuff for doors.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

I got the 4x39w t5 HO's in the mail right now..should be here tomorrow. 54's are a foot too long for my tank since its only 36".

Ti, where would i get that? Lowes/HD i'm guessing?

Oh, and there WILL be a difference in intensity i'm sure...the 4x96 PC's i got on there now are prolly 10 months old and are lookin pretty week right now lol. Nothin compared to the first few months.

 

[kevin2000]

When in doubt start them high and slowly drop .. you can always speed up the process depending how your corals respond.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

would but i cant Its in a canopy, so they'll be drilled to the lid haha. Guess i'm SOL with that one... I think i'll try getting some of that screen..