How fast can I increase light.

[Powerman]

So I run my MH 6 hours a day and I'm thinking I am running them too short. I want to got to 8 hours and see for a couple weeks what that does and then increase to 10 hours and see what that does. My bulbs are sort of due fro replacing so I want to get an idea on these bulbs and will adjust if needed with new.

So how fast can I ramp up my lights? 15 min/day... 30min/day... 1 hr/day???

 

[XCrunnr36]

i had a similar post on here a few weeks back and mostly people advised me to go up an hour every 1-2 weeks. but my advice would be much slower than 1 hour a day.

 

[SaraB]

I ramp up no more than an extra hour total a week when I change out my lights and cut the photo period in half.

 

[Powerman]

I was figuring 15 min a day.... but didn't really think in terms of an hour a week. I 'll do 15 min a day and keep it an hour for a week then go up another one.

 

[woody283]

I wouldnt start untill after you change your bulbs. That way the coral have time to get acclimated to the new spectrum at the same time.

 

[gparr]

I ramp up no more than an extra hour total a week when I change out my lights and cut the photo period in half.

What she said.

If you light-shock your corals, the recovery period will be much longer than it'll take to slowly acclimate them.

Gary

 

[Powerman]

Thanks guys. I'm at 6 hours and I'm going to 8 and then wait a month and then go to 10 and see what my tank likes. I don't think my bulbs are shot... they're a year in May, but they have only been running 6 hours a day. So I'll play and see. I'll get new bulbs at some point but don't see a need to cut back photo period that much to compensate. Probably like 25%. More than likely I will be going with same bulbs.