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Need to change bulbs.....
- Thread starter 9supratt4
- Start date
There are two methods that I have heard of. I am no expert and I have never needed to do this, but this is what I remembered reading around here.
Method 1 is by cutting a few pieces of screen material that will cover the top of your tank completely. Place them all on the tank and they will shade out some of the intense light. Gradually (every week, or every other week if you are really concerned about burning) take one layer off which lets more light penetrate until you have no screens left and your corals are acclimated to full strength lighting.
Method 2 Is simply cut the lighting time in half and every week or two add an hour back until you are back to your normal lighting schedule.
Again, this is from memory, no experience so anybody can chime in and tweak or add any info that I may be missing or incorrect. I am not sure why people do the screen thing, method 2 of cutting back on lighting seems easier to me.
I was wondering if I should do the same since I am due for bulb changes on my T5 system?
Taz
Method 1 is by cutting a few pieces of screen material that will cover the top of your tank completely. Place them all on the tank and they will shade out some of the intense light. Gradually (every week, or every other week if you are really concerned about burning) take one layer off which lets more light penetrate until you have no screens left and your corals are acclimated to full strength lighting.
Method 2 Is simply cut the lighting time in half and every week or two add an hour back until you are back to your normal lighting schedule.
Again, this is from memory, no experience so anybody can chime in and tweak or add any info that I may be missing or incorrect. I am not sure why people do the screen thing, method 2 of cutting back on lighting seems easier to me.
I was wondering if I should do the same since I am due for bulb changes on my T5 system?
Taz
magic said:
OOPS, Thanks Bob, I forgot that one!
Vangvace, I know people have done it for T5's, but I wonder how necessary it is? I haven't run across anybody posting burnt or bleached corals due to T5 change? Anybody experience this?
Taz
I was under the impression they were good for a year.
Van, I believe that gives him nine months on a bulb.
Good idea, and spreads the cost of bulbs over a longer period instead of one lump sum.
Good idea, and spreads the cost of bulbs over a longer period instead of one lump sum.
In another thread MrX said that he used a PAR meter to see what affect moving the lights UP had. He says that there is no noticable change in par when the lights are move higher (providing they are not passing through additional water). The best method is to add layers (7) of screen to the tank as a cover and remove one a week to allow for adjustment to stronger lighting.
That said, unless your bulbs were REALLY old, or of a very poor quality, and you are now going to bulbs with a much higher PAR value, I wouldn't bother screening.
That said, unless your bulbs were REALLY old, or of a very poor quality, and you are now going to bulbs with a much higher PAR value, I wouldn't bother screening.
As long as you change your bulbs on time before they're totally shot, I don't think you need to worry about it. I never did anything but change the bulb and that's it. Probably be an increase in par but there could be a straight week of extremely sunny days without a cloud in the sky over a reef. Rotate changing the bulbs and I don't think you have to worry. If you have a few over your tank, Just change 1 every few months and not all at once
I've had the new bulbs in for a week now...When they first turned on they where a lot more blue than my previous bulbs...but that is expected. But after a week there hasn't been much change. The tank doesn't look as bright as it used to....is that just because of the blue of the bulbs and is this something to worry about in regards to the light not penetrating the water deep enough?