Acclimating to LED

[bmackcw]

I just got this 300w maxspect R420R, replacing a six bulb T5. Should I be running it at, say 50% for a couple days? Not sure if it's that much stronger than the T5 with six 64w bulbs. Thoughts?

[jminick2]

LEDs can be sneaky powerful because the lumens are lower than t5 and MH it can be deceiving. I would definitely run them at the most 50% for a week probably even lower closely watching my corals for any bleaching. Then bump it up for another week and so on.

[bmackcw]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks!

[Ron Reefman]

I don't know your particular fixture all that well. But with most 2 channel fixtures I'd recommend that you run the 2 channels added together at about 75 to 100. So white at 25 and blue at 50 or white at 40 and blue at 60, or something like that. Then every week or so bump up the total number by 10, from 100 to 110, so from 40W & 60B to 45W & 65B. Even jumping each channel by 10 is OK, but I'd do them a bit less frequently, like every 2 weeks. You know the old saying, nothing good happens quikly in an aquarium. Take your time and let your corals acclimate. Do you go out in the summer sun for 6 hours the first day of vacation in Hawaii? No, you take your time and acclimate. Too bad you can't use sun screen in your tank. LOL!

Good luck.

[nuxx]

Just added a batch of different types of coral to our new frag tank.

Started at 25% for 4 days, just ramped up to 50% (also moved the lights up) and will be watching closely.