Lighting

[KrazyKuch]

I jut got a 77Gal tank but I won't have MH for a week or 2 will my other lights be able to compinsate to keep my corals alive without the MH for 2 weeks???

I have 2 10K T5's and one T8 Atinic

[danny zubot]

That depends on what corals you have, how deep is the tank?

[KrazyKuch]

it is 22 3/4" deep most corals are half way up the tank!!!

[Delphinus]

2 weeks ... I wouldn't sweat it. The corals will be fine.

But you'll need to acclimate the tank to the new lighting when you put the MH on otherwise you'll risk some light shock.

[KrazyKuch]

Sweet....so once I get the new MH I should have them on reduced lighting periods then increase the on time slowly!!

[Delphinus]

Essentially. I think the "best" way to acclimate to a higher lighting intensity is to do the "little bit on - little bit off" thing for the entire photoperiod. I.e., say you want the halides on (eventually) for 10 hours. Start with 1/2 hour on, 1/2 hour off, for the full 10 hours. Then wait a bit, change to 45 minutes on, 15 minutes off, for the full 10 hours ... and so on.

There might be different recommendations for the actual numbers and how long to wait in between increases (i.e., a couple of days versus a whole week), and how much to increase by.... so you might want to search on the topic to see what others have to say. I haven't had to do it in a long time so I don't remember what numbers I did. I know I started with 1/2 hour on 1/2 hour off and I think I spread it out over 2 weeks.

[KrazyKuch]

Okay I will look into thanx delphinus....BTW how is your huge Anenome(sp?) Doing??? has he taken over the hole tank yet???

[Delphinus]

Heh heh, pretty much, he's trying. I need a bigger tank for him, I can't really house everything I want to house in this tank because of that.

[KrazyKuch]

lol you need a tank just for him!!!!

[KrazyKuch]

Quick update to the question....I have clams...are they gonna be Okay, if I put them up close to the top!!!