How do I acclimate my new LEDs? Help

[s2kchris305]

Whats up everyone, I recently upgraded the lights on my 20gallon tank, going from quad t5 96watt odyssea fixture to the Dm-155e reef radiance led fixture. I need help on how to acclimate my lights to the corals. Im currently running the leds 16 inches above the water, the blue channel at 45 percent and the whites at 15percent for only an hour. So the blues are staying on for about 10 hours and the whites with the blue only 1 hour. I would eventually like to run the whites with the blues 4 hours. also would like to drop the fixture to about 12 inches above the water. is it possible to do this eventually? please help

thanks

 

[saf1]

When I replaced my lights with LED's I just dialed them down via the potentiometers and slowly got them to the 80 - 90% range that I wanted. I think it took a couple weeks. It really depends on the animals and LED's as well has what the previous lights are.

You have the right idea in that you need to increase over time so you don't shock them.

 

[s2kchris305]

finally a reply , thanks so much saf1. another thing, i notice after the 6 hour mark of lights being on my zoas start to close not all of them but most. even if i left the blues on alone all day .

too much light?

 

[saf1]

finally a reply , thanks so much saf1. another thing, i notice after the 6 hour mark of lights being on my zoas start to close not all of them but most. even if i left the blues on alone all day .

too much light?

All I can say is that when I switched I knew the LED's would be more intense since I was coming off the normal PC's the tank shipped with. So I lowered the output has I mentioned using dimmers (potentiometers) and reduced the overall duration. Over the course of 2 weeks I slowly increased intensity. It may have been even longer (over 2 years ago, sorry).

Use the corals has a reference. If they are acting different then it is wise to dial everything back and do a stair step approach. Zoa's stressed will close up which could be due to light. Not sure if you changed anything else but maybe dial down and see if they open. If they do then just note it to go slow.

I don't really have anything else, sorry. I just remember that I had to go slow in adjusting. Both of my tanks are 29 gallon with retro kits. One using Rapids (Cree's) and the other Steve's (Phillips). I made sure to dim both.

 

[Siebo]

Start at 40% and ramp up 5% per week. watch closely for bleaching above the 70% mark. The blues you can ramp quicker 10% per week.

Dial it back they getting to much light. IMO

 

[power boat jim]

What type corals you have in the tank will dictate how high you can turn up the LEDs. Zoas will do ok in a led tank if they are shaded by other coral. otherwise you may not be able to turn them up very far before they melt.Thats been my experience anyway. My sps like the leds at 18 in high and are run at max of 51/70/72.

 

[IowaReefer]

Start slow as stated above, I burned my mint green monti cap and it has taken a couple months to start rebounding. I also found that my LPS grows better further down in the tank than it did with my halide.

 

[tdb320reef]

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Additionally work your blue spectrum first, more and faster. Id even suggest only doing blues until you get it to the max point then start with the whites.


When something starts happening in my tank first thing I do is kill the whites.

 

[s2kchris305]

as of right now, im running only blues at 45percent for 10 hours a day and no whites. light is now about 15 inches above the water , n i lower it a inch once a week. my goal would be to keep the light 12 inches above the water and the blues at 45percent and whites at 15percent n be able to run the whites 4 hours a day . is it possible ? corals seem to be doing fine except the zoas, zoas are openning n closing throughout the day, n at the 6 hour mark of the lights being on they seem to close . any more input, im confused

 

[s2kchris305]

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