Acclimation to Metal Halide

[devon_the_mack]

Well its that time of the year to change the crappy PC's over my 20g. This year I just didnt have the heart to spend another $80 on bubls that I despise. So during my searches I managed to snag a lethal deal on a metal halide system thats got everyring I wanted.

 

The only catch was I was a bit eager and I had been looking at several fixtures and I managed to order the one with a 250watt HQI by accident when I was originally wanting the 150w. Its in the mail now so I wont bother, BUT, I was concerned about acclimation. The legs are apparently 5", or I could hang it if needed.

 

Regardless, what is the preferred to technique acclimate my tank as right now my corals are used to gross 130watts of PC light and are going to a 250w HQI (14K) with 2x65 Actinic

 

Any information would be muchly apprecaite, I'm afraid I'll burn my corals to pieces. Although not that I'm a MH expert, but I assume they'll run anything up to 250 watts on the same ballast, so I could buy a 150 HQI after if desired.

[Xander]

Not sure about running different bulbs, but when I went from PC to MH, I used mesh screens. I put 5 layers under my MH and every 3 days or so I removed one.

[ReeFur]

i put eggcrate over my tank for a week..and a 250w ballast ONlY runs 250

[devon_the_mack]

Cool thanks guys. I'll do the screen bit, I've got some old aluminum screen laying around that will suffice. Also thanks on the ballast info.

[LoBo]

I would say a combination of a egg crate ( light defuser ) and black mesh.

the light defuser really helps. lay that down first, then lay the black mesh on it, like about 3-4 layers.