reef acclimation to MH lights

[Dustin Hale]

I just got a 400 watt mh light that was used and i need some input on acclimating my fish and coral.[how far to keep them away,how often to lower them,and how long to keep them on] fish and soft corals.

 

[Lv2_play]

what type and watts of lighting were you using before? is the 400w mh a huge difference?

start with a 2 hr photoperiod with your mh, then add 30 mins every week until you get to your desired photoperiod.

 

[EdKruzel]

The photoperiod is not a factor; should the 400watts be significant, it will burn the coral in a matter of minutes, therefore two hours is extreme.
The way to remedy this or acclimate is to purchase a piece of eggcrate (cut to size with the aquarium top).
Next purchase vinyl screen and cut it into several pieces about the size of the eggcrate (about 10 should do).

Every three days remove one piece, by the time the screen is gone the corals will have acclimated to the slow increase in intensity.
I run my actinic bulbs from 10am-10pm and my halide from Noon-8:30pm.

Ed