Going from 6 bulbs to 8

[Tyler Flynn]

I have an 8 bulb ati fixture that i run 2 bulbs for 2 hours in the morning, and at night. The rest of the day i run the other 6.
after finally getting a par meter to test with i found i need to run all 8 bulbs to hit my numbers. How quickly can i increase the lighting?
1/2 hour increase every 5 days? Every week? Every 2 weeks?

 

[jda]

Just do it. This is not a huge deal with T5s as it is with LEDs. If you want to be careful, an hour a day is fine, or whatever you need to do to get it done in a week.

 

[Doctorgori]

yeah adding 2 more T5 bulbs probably won’t bleach your corals,,,, assuming you got that thing a subjective reasonable distance over the water…these 54w ?

… I wouldn’t subject a brightly colored lord or blasto to increased levels all of a sudden but I doubt anything up and dies

 

[Tyler Flynn]

yeah adding 2 more T5 bulbs probably won’t bleach your corals,,,, assuming you got that thing a subjective reasonable distance over the water…these 54w ?

… I wouldn’t subject a brightly colored lord or blasto to increased levels all of a sudden but I doubt anything up and dies

I rented a par meter and light increases are anywhere from 30 to 60 on the bottom, and 70 to 100 near the top.
I’m using ati 36” bulbs

 

[A. grandis]

I rented a par meter and light increases are anywhere from 30 to 60 on the bottom, and 70 to 100 near the top.
I’m using ati 36” bulbs

Oh man... just forget about PAR measurements with T5s. Even halides no need to worry about PAR, if well planned/adapted!
Waste of time... just get a fixture that covers the entire surface area of the system and go for it! Adapt the corals to the t5s and that's it. In your case you already had T5s, so no need to go crazy about it.
Every time you think about renting a PAR meter in the future just use the money to get some new Acro frags and call it a great day!

 

[Tyler Flynn]

Oh man... just forget about PAR measurements with T5s. Even halides no need to worry about PAR, if well planned/adapted!
Waste of time... just get a fixture that covers the entire surface area of the system and go for it! Adapt the corals to the t5s and that's it. In your case you already had T5s, so no need to go crazy about it.
Every time you think about renting a PAR meter in the future just use the money to get some new Acro frags and call it a great day!

First time using one. I now have my tank mapped for 6 bulbs and 8 bulbs, so i shouldn’t need it ever again.
my fixture is almost the same size as my tank foot print.

 

[A. grandis]

Enjoy!

 

[Bpb]

I concur with @jda just dive in. You won’t shock your tank only adding the additional two T5’s for the full photoperiod.

 

[Midrats]

Shhh! Don't tell my wife but I just replaced a six bulb with an eight bulb Sunpower. She didn't even notice :D. I have it at full blast 8" AWL and my acros only look happier fully enveloped in light. The lobos on the bottom don't seem to mind either.

 

[A. grandis]

Shhh! Don't tell my wife but I just replaced a six bulb with an eight bulb Sunpower. She didn't even notice :D. I have it at full blast 8" AWL and my acros only look happier fully enveloped in light. The lobos on the bottom don't seem to mind either.

Thanks for posting! I've been telling people to forget anything, including PAR, and go for the full coverage for more than decade...
Don't worry, I won't tell...
Enjoy your tank, man! Please post pictures!
8 tube power in da house!

 

[Midrats]

One year young.