Positioning of Corals

[dustybaker]

So I now have a few different corals in my tank and much better lighting. I bought a 150w Metal Halide from NAL, its the HOB coralife type. I have Frogspawn, Bam Bams, Mean Green Palys, and a Kenya Tree. Where should I put each of these? The tank is a 29 gal and the light sits about 8 inches above the water. I also have a K3 now for flow.

[TriggerFreak]

well, the stuff thats at the top now, i would move to the bottom, the light may be a shock to them!

[dustybaker]

and after that?

[TriggerFreak]

well the leather can be down low, frogspawn can be middle to high and the zoas anywhere the top if you want them to grow fast!

[kjdeut]

I had always had good luck with the frogspawn and leathers on the lower half of the tank. Zoas are like weeds and can grow in any light. I also second the comment on moving things down with the new light and then slowly moving them back up if you want.

Ken

[David Grigor]

What was the previous lighting ?

Most corals will adapt. Just be sure to acclimiate to the light. Being only a 150W how you acclimate isn't going to need to be too drastic here. I'd adjust the light as high as possible, reduce the photo-period to a minimum and gradually add time, then closely monitor. Move things on as needed basis depending on how well it responds. Some may need to go higher others lower but all comes down to obversation because all of us have different systems. Some corals it could take a good 6 months before you really see the full color shifts ( positive or negative ). For sure changing sprectrum of T5 bulbs for example can take much longer than just a week or two to see the full effects on the coral such as pastel colors, lps shifting to more transparent etc. so same effects could apply here.

Typically, zoanthids the more light they receive the smaller the polyps will be. So if you seeing a change that you don't like, then adjust accordingly. The may be smaller but usually more vibrant so you have to weight the effects with what you like.

Again though only 150W and being 8" high and probably not the most effecient reflector available for DE, it's likely not going to be a problem if acclimiated like I mentioned above.

[Becky]

well the leather can be down low, frogspawn can be middle to high and the zoas anywhere the top if you want them to grow fast!
Or melt them!

Middle to lower light for zoas Too close to the MH and they could melt

[Becky]

What David said :biggrin: