How long to run MH?

zoanthids, i would run it for around 4 hours for a week and then add an hour or so each week after, especially with that 10k bulb, maybe a little less...if you were running a 20k or 14k then you wouldnt have acclimate them as long since it has less par

 

Okay, ill run it until 7 tonight, i just turned it on like 15 mins ago.. Is that okay?

And what are you saying about a 14k or something? becuz i am going to get a 14k once i get the money, would ihave to acclimate them longer or something?

 

no you would have to acclimate a 10k bulb longer than a 14k or 20k...when you switch you prolly wont need to acclimate them since the 14k and 20k have less par..

 

Oh alright..welll COOOLIO! Im pumped to just have MH right now haha..Hopefully one of my paly colonies sale and i can get a bulb.

 

but do what M234 said, just keep an eye on your tank, when your corals start to close up, or delfate, then turn it off..i use my torch for this..usually around 10pm my torch will suck in and ill usually cut the halide off then..but i dont run my lights a certain time..sometiime my halide runs 5 hours sometime i run it 10 hours, just depends how the corals are liking it..

 

How long are you keeping the MH on for initially??? I am easily confused....

 

he was gonna run it from 3-9ish..

 

As of right now i am running it for 4 hours(Saints fan suggested) It has been on my tank for 2 days so far. I am going to run it for 7-8 hours when the corals are acclimated.

 

I have made the mistake twice of almost bleaching my corals with a new metal halide bulb. My last bulb change I started at 4 hours for the 1st week and no burn this time or bad color shift. And your corals are new to MH so I would be slow about about it. Four hours max for at least a week JM2C.

 

yeah when i switched to the ushio i went just 2 hours on a few days, and then went another hour for a couple days, and so on and so on,,

it just depends on what bulb your using..if you go from a 20k to a 6500k bulb then its gonna take forever to acclimate it..but if your change from a 6500k to a 20k than you dont have to worry about any acclimation