New MH

[furforfour]

I currently have a 29g mostly zoanthid tank with 195w of PC lighting. A friend recently offered to sell me his 250w MH setup with 14k bulb, magnetic ballast and reflector all built into a 29g canopy with fans for $50. I couldnt pass up the deal and am picking it up today. Does anyone have any advice as to how much to cut back my photo period and for how long? I currently run my lights for 12 hours a day. Also does anyone have feedback from using a similar MH setup on a 29?

Thanks

 

[Azurel]

I have that samething on a 40g...not to much differant, I would go get some plastic screen for like screen doors and take 6-7 folds or cut sheets of it and put over your tank and every 2 days remove a fold...This will help them acclimate to the new lighting....I would try to do this over a 2 week period by then end you should be able to have your lights on and have no issues.....Good luck and show some pictures once your get things going....Great deal to by the way.
Indi is a great town.....My best friend used to live there....

 

[surfnvb7]

do you have a sump? depending on the ambient room temperature, and if i read correctly, this is a magnetic ballast with SE mogul set up, you may have some over heating issues.

using the screen method to acclimate is the best way than reducing your photo period. but with MH's, you only really need to run them ~8hrs a day. your bulb life and electricity bill with thank you

 

[furforfour]

I actually just sat the canopy down and turned the light on a few minutes ago. I do have a sump. I was wrong about the balast in my previous post, it sits on the floor beside the tank, rather than in the canopy so I dont think it should create too much heat. Also I live in an apartment with utilities included in the rent, so luckily I dont have to worry about the power bill. I will cut down the photo period and try to get some screen. I'll post some pictures soon.

 

[surfnvb7]

electric inlcluded in rent!! wow, you got it made!!

yeah, just keep a close eye on the temp of the tank. may only want to keep the light on while you are home at least until you get used to it. i've found, with about a 30g tank, and a 250w MH on a magnetic ballast, i gota keep the room temp no higher than 79 to keep the tank under 81.