new lights

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

Ya. I think so too. Leave your actinic on as you normally would and that's good advice to increase the MHs by 1 hour every two days.

nope good Way to lead to bleaching if you are stepping your lights up enuf.

there are 2 ways to do it, recommended by most big names and this is using a screening in several layers (about 10) and removing a layer every couple days or there is the increasing interval, which is good for people who can use screens due to the layout of the tank / cabinet or what ever. so start 1 hour on then 1 hour off and do this for the normal photo period so 10 to 12 hours a day, after 3 or 4 days increase it to 1.24 hour on .75 hour off for another 3 or 4 days, then 1.5 hours on 0.5 hour off for 3 or 4 days then 1.75 hour on .24 off for 3 or 4 days then full on, the problem with this is you do need a digital timer to pull it off. if you are going from good PC's to say 175's or what ever for the most part you should be able to get away with the switch, but if you were going from PC's to 250HQI's or 400s and even some normal 250 watt setups then I suggest one of the methods.

as for bulb life not going to make a difference we will see as we throw out our bulbs be for there life is even close to being used up anyways.

Steve