too much light a bad thing?

[ricky1414]

:?: i recently upgraded my lightin from approximately 60 watts to a new 65x2 pc lighting fixture. is that too much light for a 20 gal tank? do i need to suspend the light higher from the tank? the light currently is approximately 3 1/2 inches from the water.
thank you in advance for your help.

 

[BlueFang]

Ricky,

Don't forsee much complications. You should monitor the temperature closely, as even a degree either way could traumatise the inhabitants of your tank. If you do notice a considerable increase of temperature, you should invest in a chiller. Or you can raise the lights higher and see if that works, but most go for the chiller.
Care to fill us in on what kind of livestock you're sustaining with the new lighting?

 

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that raising the lights reduces the light output in an inverse square fashion. If your lights were 6" above the tank and you raised them to 12", your effective lighting would be reduce by 4!

I would keep them as low as possible, given the water temperature considerations.

Louey

 

[ricky1414]

here is my problem...
my galaxae coral (the only one in my tank, as i am going gradually) is not doing so well since i put in the new lights. his color has changed from a solid maroon to having small green areas within his sweepers. the temp does not seem to be affected by the lights. can he be shocked or traumatized by the intensity of the lighting? i definately don't want him to die, but i spent a lot of money on the new lighting setup, as i am sure most of you guys have.
BTW- i also have 2 green chromis, some astrea snails, and some blue hermits; 15-18# LR, and a 3 inch sandbed

 

[BlueFang]

Your coral seems to be complaining, I would introduce the light in a less abrupt fashion ... Try adjusting the height of your lights slightly, note the changes in your coral as you you go along....

 

[Anonymous]

Very much agreed, the change very well may have been too abrupt.

 

[Anonymous]

Could also cut the lighting cycle down some, then slowly increase it to a normal photoperiod. Might be easier than adjusting height, especially if it's a retro kit or something.

 

[Anonymous]

Oftentimes, a good thing can hurts if it is done improperly.

 

[Anonymous]

Is that what your lady keeps telling you David? :lol: (Joke!)

Sorry, couldn't resist. Maybe I should go to the sump now. 'bows head in shame and walks slowly off'

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

Like many things in life, you have to be patient and do thing gradually. There is no instant gratification that lasts. This is true in reef, and other examples that JimM can think off.

 

[Anonymous]

I too am going to pc lights however i will be moving the lights higher up..the heating really shouldnt be an issue with pc lights from flourescents...and perhaps i will also try adjusting the photoperiod...

8)

 

[ChrisRD]

Another option for acclimating your corals to the new lighting is to cut some eggcrate to fit the top of the tank and use layers of (non-metallic) window screening (lay them on the eggcrate). Take off a layer of screening every few days until you're gradually ramped up to full intensity (no screening).

This is also handy when you're introducing a new specimen and trying to acclimate it to your lighting. In that case, you can just cut small squares of screening so you are only blocking the lighting to the area where the new coral is without effecting the rest of the tank. This allows you to acclimate the coral without moving it several times (stressful to the coral IMO), messing with the height of your lighting, or stressing your tank by depriving other corals of light while acclimating something new.

Anthony Calfo suggests this technique. I've tried it several times now and it works great.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

That's a great idea, Chris!

 

[nick morgan]

Chris has suggested the way that I do it. It works great. Just be sure to keep an eye on it and use something that takes high heat well. You don't want to burn up your lighting fixture OR what you are using to filter the light. I used Duct tape. I put a couple of strips on the glass top of the tank and elevated the light fixture about 1 1/2" above the glass top. I was using a 4' flouressent light.

 

[Anonymous]

i really don't think it's possible to have 'too much' light

i have 2x 175 watts of light (metal halide) about 3" above the water surface

on a 12"tall 20 long nano :wink: :mrgreen:

here's a pic of my ghetto hood

(note the high tech 'moonlight w/reflector' :lol: )

 

[ricky1414]

here is my make shift moonlight. everyone can laugh, but it works, i get a nice shimmer effect from it. this will only be temporary until i can rig something better. i guess with nanos, everything has to be jury rigged...