Upgraded lighting question. (1 Viewer)

[incysor]

I finally got the new canopy finished and on the 75 tonight. I upgraded from 130w PC, to 440w VHO, and 1x175w MH. I'm not turning the MH on for a bit.

My question is should I cut my photoperiod back on the VHO lights? It's quite a jump and I don't want to burn anything. I normally ran the PC lights 12-16hrs a day. Would running the VHO's about 6hrs to start off with be enough of a reduction? I ran them about 4hrs tonight, and with the exception of a few mushrooms everything stayed open and fully extended. Once things are used to the VHO's I'll add in the MH.

B

 

[Guest]

pm sent

 

[incysor]

pm sent

The PC lights are not for sale at this time. Thanks for asking though.

I still need some input on what you guys think.

Brian

 

[djreef]

Take it gradual like you're planning. You don't want to cause UV burn to the LPS', and you don't want to initiate a photo induced bleaching of you SPS'. I'd say 4 hrs for the first week, then add a couple the following, then two more the next - like that. I wouldn't even turn the MH on for the first month until everything stabilizes to the VHO's. Then I'd run the MH the same way starting out with 2 hours, then four. I ran my VHO/MH combo in a midday sun type cycle, where the VHO's were on for 9 hours and the MH were on for 4 in the middle, simulating the mid-day cycle. But most importantly watch the animals - they're going to tell you the pace.

DJ
= 8-->{I>

 

[incysor]

Take it gradual like you're planning. You don't want to cause UV burn to the LPS', and you don't want to initiate a photo induced bleaching of you SPS'. I'd say 4 hrs for the first week, then add a couple the following, then two more the next - like that. I wouldn't even turn the MH on for the first month until everything stabilizes to the VHO's. Then I'd run the MH the same way starting out with 2 hours, then four. I ran my VHO/MH combo in a midday sun type cycle, where the VHO's were on for 9 hours and the MH were on for 4 in the middle, simulating the mid-day cycle. But most importantly watch the animals - they're going to tell you the pace.

DJ
= 8-->{I>

Cool. I appreciate the input. I just didn't want to cut the photoperiod back too far. I'll just watch everything very closely.

B

 

[incysor]

Here's some pics of the new canopy. Eventually there will be one on the 40 that matches it. I'm gonna start like DJReef suggested and run the VHO's about 4hrs a day for the next week or so, then I'll move it up to 6hrs, then 8hrs. Once I get it to 8hrs I'll start in with the MH on for an hour a day, and move it up to 3-4hrs a day gradually.

B

 

[BrianPlankis]

Nice looking canopy incysor. How tall is it? What kind of MH did you go with? Where did you buy your fans?

B.

 

[incysor]

Nice looking canopy incysor. How tall is it? What kind of MH did you go with? Where did you buy your fans?

B.

Honestly I don't remember exactly how tall it is. I want to say it's about 15in. Neither myself or my Father have any woodworking or furniture building experience. We built the stands about 2.5 years ago, and that was the first thing either of us tried. The canopy was much more of a PITA, but I'm happy with how it turned out. The MH is just a single 175w. I don't have the money for a chiller, and I need to keep the tem down to about 75 because the octos live longer with cooler water. Since the 40g and the 75g are plumbed together heat's an issue. I got the fans at EPO. I think they ran me about $8ea. I got 6, (2 will go in the canopy for the 40g), covers for them, and 2 adapters to run them for about $70. Not a huge deal, but not bad.

B

 

[djreef]

[No message]

 

[incysor]

Dude, I thought you had 4 VHO tubes - you could easily bump those up to 6 hours right away. I don't think there's that much difference in the PAR output at any given point in the system btwn what you had, and what you have now. You just have better spread now with the VHO's. Just take a month, or so before you work the MH in and you should be cool.

DJ
= 8-->{I>

Actually there are 4 VHO. In the first shot with the canopy open, there are 2 on the inside of the canopy on the closed side, and 2 on the door that's folded all the way open. On the other shots I was jus trying to show the fans and the MH.

 

[djreef]

Yea, I noticed that after the fact - I tried, obviously unsuccessfully, to delete the post - you know so as to not look like a total tool.

DJ
= 8-->{I>

 

[incysor]

Yea, I noticed that after the fact - I tried, obviously unsuccessfully, to delete the post - you know so as to not look like a total tool.

DJ
= 8-->{I>

tool...I haven't heard that in awhile. Great.