Schedule for increasing light intensity?

ChrisP · 10-02-2007, 10:14 PM

Just bought a slightly used 150W, 14K, K2 Viper HQI clamp-on lamp for my 12 gallon Aquapod 12 (I know it's overkill, but I got a good deal). This is replacing my stock lighting (28W actinic and 28W 10K PCs, The tank has mostly zoo frags, 3 ricordia, kenya tree and xenia frag, monti and poci frag. They've been under the PC lighting for about 6 weeks.

I thought the best way to introduce the increased lighting would be to slowly lower the distance from the fixture to the water. What would be a reasonable starting height and schedule for lowering it?

CATALYST · 10-02-2007, 11:28 PM

I did my change over with time rather than height. I had my pc's on for 12 hours. When I put the mh on I started at 6 hours and moved it up to 8 hours by about 1/2 hour a week. I know that other people use layers of screen and take a layer away each week. I had all kinds of crazy algae growth when I changed lights so be prepared.

framerguy · 10-02-2007, 11:40 PM

The egg crate and layers of vinyl screen is a good idea. That's what I use when I replace lamps. 4 layers, remove 1/week after the first week works for me.

10-02-2007, 10:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
ChrisP Tunicate Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 12 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Schedule for increasing light intensity? Just bought a slightly used 150W, 14K, K2 Viper HQI clamp-on lamp for my 12 gallon Aquapod 12 (I know it's overkill, but I got a good deal). This is replacing my stock lighting (28W actinic and 28W 10K PCs, The tank has mostly zoo frags, 3 ricordia, kenya tree and xenia frag, monti and poci frag. They've been under the PC lighting for about 6 weeks. I thought the best way to introduce the increased lighting would be to slowly lower the distance from the fixture to the water. What would be a reasonable starting height and schedule for lowering it?

10-02-2007, 11:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
CATALYST Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,223 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Schedule for increasing light intensity? I did my change over with time rather than height. I had my pc's on for 12 hours. When I put the mh on I started at 6 hours and moved it up to 8 hours by about 1/2 hour a week. I know that other people use layers of screen and take a layer away each week. I had all kinds of crazy algae growth when I changed lights so be prepared.

10-02-2007, 11:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,908 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Schedule for increasing light intensity? The egg crate and layers of vinyl screen is a good idea. That's what I use when I replace lamps. 4 layers, remove 1/week after the first week works for me. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon mangrove/seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/reef-chronicles/31882-akwareum-too.html

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