I've got a 90G with a Current USA Nova Extreme Pro (6x54w). It has two 10K daylight bulbs and 3 460nm actinics, and 1 420nm actinic.

Anyways, I had two acro frags in my 24g AP with a 150w SunPod HQI, and all my corals looked great. However, after swapping everything to the 90, I just can't get anything to look 'good' anymore.

All my parameters are fine, temp is stable, etc. It seems as if there may be too much light in the 90 :/

I have an encrusting monti about 1' from the surface, and it has great growth, as do the red zoas right next to it. However, just about 2" up from that are my birds next and two acro frags. The birdsnest is pink, but has no polyp extension during the day. The acros are pretty plain actually, through one has blue tips, but no polyp extension either. However, in the morning before the lights turn on, all the SPS in the tank look like they're wearing fur coats.

I have a few new non-frag SPS corals that I recently got and have been acclimating on the sand bed. One is an acro and the other is a stylophora. The acro has minimal polyp extension during the day, but also puffs up at night. The stylo looks great all the time though.

However, I tried acclimating my ricordea from the 24 to the 90 by placing them on the sand and they turned white I've moved them up next to the monti and they're getting their color back slowly. Though, on the other hand, my red people eaters are showing telltale over exposure signs at the same level as the monti -- the polyps directly facing up are turning pinkish and translucent, though the ones fortunate enough to face away from the top look great.

Is it possible that the T5HO is putting out more light than the HQI? I think I had the SPS frags in the 24 about 3" from the surface, and I know they almost always had polyp extension. I also had the ricordea on the sandbed and their color was awesome.

6x54=324
324>150

324w of t5ho with individual reflectors will fry something that was under 150w MH.

Keep in mind that t5's are reflected over your full 54" while the HQI is a point of light reflected. Not only are they getting a lot more light, they are getting more coverage.

You're going to need a light acclimation either starting in shaded sand or a very short photoperiod slowly increasing over a few weeks.

I should mention that the 90 has been set up since late July. How long would an acclimation process take?

Should I move the ricordea and SPS frags down?

Edit: I should also mention that I've upped the photoperiod from 8 hours with with the HQI to 12 hours with the T5 (my reasoning was that since the tank doesn't get nearly as warm, it seemed more natural).

dang I just screwed this whole thing up didn't I?

Also, do you think the ricordea went white(ish) because of too much light and the only reason they're getting some color back after getting moved up is because they're just getting used to the light now?

Just my 2c, but I keep ricordea under ledges and in caves under my t5's. They will fry under too much light IME.

There are several threads about corals only needing 6 hours of full power light a day. Too long a photoperiod can actually cause damage ("sunburn") and they'll expend nutrients and carbon from photosynthesis healing instead of growing.

I have 3 tanks under t5's and the 10k's are only on for 6 hours, actinics 3 hours more on either end. Even with this photoperiod, I've bleached SPS on the top rack of my frag tank from too much light.

If they're bleaching, they are getting too much light or not enough nutrients. If they're still alive, then you have a chance. I'd drop the 6 bulb photoperiod down to 5-6 hours and watch for reaction. New corals should start very low in a high light tank ie/ 6x54w with ind reflectors.

Thanks for the info. I'll reduce the photoperiod over the next few weeks down to <9 hours. Unfortunately, my power strip doesn't allow me to set individual outlet on/off times, just has an 'on' and 'off' bank. I'll need to replace it so that I can do 2x actinic for a few hours before and after. I've wanted to do this anyways.

I'll also start moving the sps and ricordea lower.

Its just weird that the GSP is about 2" from the surface and growing like a weed. I swear *nothing* can harm that or Xenia. Also some of my zoas are looking great just <1' from the surface. Lighting is hard