Acro Acclimation question

[RyanTheSquid]

First 2 acro corals I have ever owned. I know to maintain high par, high flow, calcium around 400-450 and Magbesium around 1300. How long do I need to acclimate them at a lower spot in my tank, I have them each in individual frag holders on the side of my tank in roughly the lower 3rd of the tank. Its a 40G cube AIO.
One, I think is a smooth skin and one is not, what do I need to know abour the difference in care these may require?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have metal hallides, so me personally I acclimate a week on the sand, then halfway up for another week and then the third or fourth week I place them where I want.

But is that an AI Prime? I don't think AI Prime can put out 400-450 par. For an AI Prime, I would just go ahead and place the corals where you want them, no acclimation needed, AI Prime won't harm corals with high light

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I'll be honest... I think the whole light acclimation thing is a little overblown, I never pay any attention to it. They'll adjust as long as you aren't blasting them with something unreasonable right off the bat.

 

[RyanTheSquid]

I have metal hallides, so me personally I acclimate a week on the sand, then halfway up for another week and then the third or fourth week I place them where I want.

But is that an AI Prime? I don't think AI Prime can put out 400-450 par. For an AI Prime, I would just go ahead and place the corals where you want them, no acclimation needed, AI Prime won't harm corals with high light

Its a roughly 21" deep tank, the light is about 3" from the surface, with tge rockwork being roughly 3 or 4" below the surface of the water. Ive got the blue maxed.

 

[Science/G]

You're not getting very much spread with that AI prime 3 in off the water. What you're getting is a hotspot under the light, with not much light at the edges. I think if I remember correctly the ideal height for an AI prime is 8-12 inches above the water line. Now that those corals are sitting in the corner away from the light even though the prime isn't that powerful if you stick them right up high underneath the light you might shock them a bit.

 

[Science/G]

 

[RyanTheSquid]

You're not getting very much spread with that AI prime 3 in off the water. What you're getting is a hotspot under the light, with not much light at the edges. I think if I remember correctly the ideal height for an AI prime is 8-12 inches above the water line. Now that those corals are sitting in the corner away from the light even though the prime isn't that powerful if you stick them right up high underneath the light you might shock them a bit.

In the past I have been told that light is not nearly enough to reach those levels. And was told by others on this forum that I need to get the light closer to the surface of the water because I am losing out on a lot of PAR by having sit further above the surface. I will raise it a bit and move the acros higher. Thank you.

 

[Science/G]

200 to 400 par right under the light is actually a pretty good spot for most acros, thinking about it now. Maybe moving them towards the center a little bit over the next day or two before you mount them, it's not going to hurt

 

[Science/G]

In the past I have been told that light is not nearly enough to reach those levels. And was told by others on this forum that I need to get the light closer to the surface of the water because I am losing out on a lot of PAR by having sit further above the surface. I will raise it a bit and move the acros higher. Thank you.

The par produced at that level where your rock work is might actually be just enough but you're really going to be limited with coral placement on the sides of the scape because of the hotspot that's created right in the middle under the light

 

[Science/G]

 

[willpower]

Like previous posters, I do not think non extreme light acclimation is necessary.

Stable parameters friendly to SPS ( low nutrients, alk high 7-9, calcium 430) is more important.

The problem with your type of light is that it is highly concentrated at one point without a large diffuser, espeically if close to the water.

I would get a good quality par meter from a friend and measure. Most likely you have one hot spot right below and the sides are much lower PAR.

I have a 5" CADE 160g that runs 3x a500x kessil. It does not grow SPS well even though I have PAR measured it at 360 par at the level of SPS.

I think that an array of LEDS that are broader in size and color like in Radions etc, is best but you can maybe add one more same light to yours for coverage. You could possibly angle 2 same lights to get better coverage and success.

 

[reefpanda]

Same, I just place them directly where I want them to be and adjust later on if needed