they are coralview and the lighting period is about 10 hrs a day. I installed them February 2003 so I know they need to be replaced. I guess that's next on the list ;)
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printthread.php?t=438&pp=40they are coralview and the lighting period is about 10 hrs a day. I installed them February 2003 so I know they need to be replaced. I guess that's next on the list ;)
That could be a main source of your probs... older lighting tends to shift to more of a red band(plant food). Be sure to acclimentn slowly, it's gonna be a major change to go from your current bulbs to a new set.
how should I acclimate? I can raise my lights up to 2 ft from the water. Or should I just use shorter lighting periods?
IMO, begin at the point of where you see the corals responding fairly well(about 18") and drop an 1" or 2 each week(depending on the corals responses... they'll tell you what they like best)until you reach your desired position. I would think it would be ok to keep your current photo period.
I just ordered 3 new 250w 20k MH bulbs. They should be here this week yet I hope. I went and looked at my tank before the lights went out for the night and I swear the hair algae grew an inch today, lol. I just couldn't wait to get them. At the rate the HA is growing, my tank would have been covered in 2 weeks.
On a side note, can I use the old MH for my chaeto or would that be too much? As expensive as the bulbs are, I hate throwing them out. What does everyone do with their old bulbs??
I am using our 18+ month old ushios on the fuge/growout tank, there just fine. Good way to get your money out of them.
They'll stay until I see anything in there telling me to take it out.
Recycle, definitely... Awesome lighting for algae, obviously.
Frags aren't complaining either. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Reptoreef
Do you ever have any probs with algae attaching to your frags or their plugs???
Not really. If there is a dead part of a frag, algea will grow on it, but nothing on healthy frags. Small spots here and there on rubble that the frags are attached too, but the snails make quick work of it.
Slow flow through the fuge/growout is more a factor than the old bulbs I believe.