Thoughts on lighting acclimation schedule?

AllSignsPointToFish · Jun 1, 2016

I have been running 3 Kessil A360WEs in my tank. They ramp up to 40% color and 100% intensity over 90 minutes, stay at that level for 7 hours, then go through the opposite ramp down.

Yesterday, I installed 2 80W T5HOs in true actinic as supplemental lighting. I configured the Apex to run them for 60 minutes towards the end of the day before the Kessil ramp down. I almost immediately noticed that the zoas and a couple of other corals didn't appreciate the new lighting too much. So, today I reduced the run time to 30 minutes after I noticed the same phenomenon. What are your thoughts on acclimation time and how to approach the situation?

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 1, 2016

reduce intensity not duration.

AllSignsPointToFish · Jun 2, 2016

That's kind of difficult with nondimmable T5s ;)

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 2, 2016

AllSignsPointToFish said:
That's kind of difficult with nondimmable T5s ;)

Use masking tape or screening material;)

WetWhistle · Jun 2, 2016

What I did when I installed 4 X80 watt T5 was have them come on for 10 min then shut off. I waited a week and bumped it up 10 more min and waited another week and so on till I got to the time I wanted them on for. I didn't change my LED. At this rate it is like tanning for 10 min a day and over a few weeks you start to get a tan. Same thing for the corals. At this rate I never noticed any distress in my corals and I noticed an immediate increase in growth in the first week but no bleaching or color issues.

AllSignsPointToFish · Jun 2, 2016

WetWhistle said:
What I did when I installed 4 X80 watt T5 was have them come on for 10 min then shut off. I waited a week and bumped it up 10 more min and waited another week and so on till I got to the time I wanted them on for. I didn't change my LED. At this rate it is like tanning for 10 min a day and over a few weeks you start to get a tan. Same thing for the corals. At this rate I never noticed any distress in my corals and I noticed an immediate increase in growth in the first week but no bleaching or color issues.

Awesome. Pretty easy to do this with Apex. ;)