Metal Halide help

[edmondspl]

Hello my fellow reef friends.

I have been looking for a good thread here on Metal Halide acclimation but couldn't find one. Please don't yell at me if there is a good one. LOL

Anyways I have just purchased two 250 W metal halides that I want to add to my current 4 65W PC's on my 55 gal tank. What I would like to know is:

1. what is THE BEST way to acclimate my corals to the new lights
2. Would a on/ off schedule of the lights stress my fish

Any help from the experts would be appreciated.

[sihaya]

Hello fellow friend at reefland!

1. I don't know if there's a "best" way... but I think the easiest way is to just place the coral at the bottom of the tank in a shaded area and slowly move it up to more intense light.

2. I don't think so... why would it?

[CSeaSee]

Try this link: lighting upgrade question
Your fish will be fine.

[edmondspl]

I do not have the option to move the corals to a lower spot in the tank since it is a 2 1/2 year already well established tank. Also I can't raise the lights any further then they already are due to the fact that they are in a canopy attached to the tank. Currently the lights are about 12 inches from the water surface which is ideally from waht i was told.

Anyone else know any more methods?

[CSeaSee]

Put some semi-transparent material between the corals and the lights and slowly remove them over a period of 2 weeks.

[Poseidon]

Window screen works great! Use a couple/three layers, and remove 1 layer every 7 days. I would leave the lights on for your intended photo period though.