Lighting Question
- Thread starter beapeams
- Start date
Turf
Active member
Here it is... I've done a ton of reading on this and have acclimated my softies from SO lighting to 2x400 watt radiums on a 55gal doing this method and NOT LOST A SINGLE CORAL. Then I did it again in a 90gal.
- The key not starting at an hour and then leaving off for the rest of the day and then 2 the next ect ect. Actually what you need to do is have an electronic timer that lets you do multiple stages.
- 2nd - Lets say you plan to run your lights for a total 10hrs after acclimation. You would proceed as follows...
------ Turn lights on for a 1/2 hr then off for an 1 hr; on for 1/2 hr then off for hr and keep repeating this cycle untill it totals your 10yrs or close to it. In this example you will end with a total of 7 cycles.
***!!!! It is very important to note that the most important part of these cycles is the 1hr or off/"recovery time" because that is how much time they need to process the "dark" cycle of photosynthesis or the cells will become over loaded and bleach!!!
- 3rd step - after two days you can up the amount of ON time by 15min and be safe (I've done it by a half hr and still worked fine) So that now your cycles will be 1hr ON and 1hr OFF. Keep in mind that as you inclease the amount of on time you need fewer cycles because you still need to keep the total process about 10hrs in this example.
- 4th Keep repeating step 3 - your next cycle will be 1.5 hr ON 1hr OFF for a total of 5 cycles. After you get to where there are just two cycles you simply stop.
- After all acclimation is done you'll ask yourself what about when I add new corals that where not under intence lighting. You can just put that coral under an over hang and pull it into the open a little more every few days over a weeks time; sometimes less.
- The key not starting at an hour and then leaving off for the rest of the day and then 2 the next ect ect. Actually what you need to do is have an electronic timer that lets you do multiple stages.
- 2nd - Lets say you plan to run your lights for a total 10hrs after acclimation. You would proceed as follows...
------ Turn lights on for a 1/2 hr then off for an 1 hr; on for 1/2 hr then off for hr and keep repeating this cycle untill it totals your 10yrs or close to it. In this example you will end with a total of 7 cycles.
***!!!! It is very important to note that the most important part of these cycles is the 1hr or off/"recovery time" because that is how much time they need to process the "dark" cycle of photosynthesis or the cells will become over loaded and bleach!!!
- 3rd step - after two days you can up the amount of ON time by 15min and be safe (I've done it by a half hr and still worked fine) So that now your cycles will be 1hr ON and 1hr OFF. Keep in mind that as you inclease the amount of on time you need fewer cycles because you still need to keep the total process about 10hrs in this example.
- 4th Keep repeating step 3 - your next cycle will be 1.5 hr ON 1hr OFF for a total of 5 cycles. After you get to where there are just two cycles you simply stop.
- After all acclimation is done you'll ask yourself what about when I add new corals that where not under intence lighting. You can just put that coral under an over hang and pull it into the open a little more every few days over a weeks time; sometimes less.
