lighting switch

[NirvanaFan]

Well, I've finally decided to switch out my VHOs to t5. I've acquired a tek 8 bulb fixture. I'm putting the coats of polyurethane on the new canopy today and tomorrow (pics to come when I'm done).

I've got a mixed reef of SPS, LPS and softies. I have a birdsnest, acro valida, a couple monti caps, a digita, and another sps or two I can't think of now. For LPS I've got a krypto candy (thanks RandyO, the wife loves it), Frogspawn, a hammer, and a platygyra. I've got a bunch of softies including about 10 kinds of zoas, kenya trees that need a new home, and a few more.

I've also got a green bubble tip anemone.

I currently run my VHOs (3 daylight, 1 actinic) from 10:30am to 10pm. What kind of photo period would you recommend?

Eventually I want to end the daylight bulbs at 9:30pm and actinics at 10:30pm. Here's what I'm thinking...

Day 1 - actinics 5pm-10:30pm daylights 5:30pm - 9:30pm
Day 2 - actinics 4:30pm - 10:30pm daylights 5pm - 9:30pm
Day 3 - actinics 4pm - 10:30pm daylights 4:30pm - 9:30pm


I'll keep adding a half hour a day to both the actinics and daylights until I reach 10 hours with the daylights and 10 and a half hours with the actinics. For what it's worth, I think VHOs aren't as underpowered as people think. I'm growing two different zoas on the bottom of my tank on the glass, and there is a piece of monti cap on a rock on the very bottom of the tank as well (17" below the surface).

Sooooo....... How does that sound? Would you guys do anything different?

Thanks in advance!

 

[oceanparadise1]

I would just keep the atinics on 10.5 hours a day right away, and just adjust the day lights.

 

[Johnny C]

I've never personally used VHO's, but I can tell you that T5's are underestimated as far as par goes. Be very careful after making the switch. For the first day or two, I would only run your actinic lighting, and if you do run the daytime(s), only do so for a couple of hours to get the corals accilmated.

Some people suggest using layer(s) of screen to diffuse the lighting at first, this may be a good idea for you. HTH

PS- Canopy? That tek light looks AWESOME, must you cover it up?

 

[NirvanaFan]

I'm covering up the lights because they would look odd with the rest of the house. There isn't anything "modern" or contemporary looking.

The screen mesh is a good idea. I can probably figure something out for that.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[cardiffgiant]

I've got the 6 bulb tek fixture. I found that to be a pretty insane amount of light when it was over a 75.

+1 for the recommendation to go with normal timing on the actinic and use a diffuser to adjust everything to the day lamps.