May need expert Help

[btang]

I need some advice.

Most know my tank 'My 105' thread. Its been running for about 8 months now. I have been noticing some of the corals arent doing as well. (xenia and Red Brain, looks like i'm losing my spagetti coral).

I have checked some of the levels and they are looking good.

PH morning 8.01, night 8.28
Nitrate between .2 - 1
Calcium 400
Salinity 1.024
Temp 81
Only ro water


I'm thinking something else is missing from the water that may be changing the health of the tank.

What would you guys be checking and looking for.

I'm going to do a 15 - 20 gallon water change tomorrow.

[btang]

Things I'm thinking about doing:

Replace all my filter elements in my RO (first 3 stages) not the top element (I have the Kent)
Time to replace my light blubs??

Do more water changes?

[tims]

RIch when was the last time the bulbs were changed? i do my flo. bulbs about every 6 minths or so.
also Xenia is one of those corals that either grow like weeds or dont grow at all.

[btang]

I have never changed them.

Should they both be changed? VHO Actinics and MW??

[VWD]

I think If they are a year or older the VHO's and MH. it's time to change them out. as far as the problem You are having can't say that is the reason.

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by VWD

I think If they are a year or older the VHO's and MH. it's time to change them out. as far as the problem You are having can't say that is the reason.

The frequency of changing VHO bulbs will depend on the ballasts. With tar ballasts (Advance or Magnetek) you need to change them every 6 months of run time at 12 hours a day, longer if you run them less. With Icecap electronic ballasts, VHO bulbs do not lose their PAR or red shift enough for replacement until somewhere in the 12 to 15 month point, so it will depend on whether you're using electronic Vs tar ballasts for the fluorescent bulbs.

Can't help you off the top of my head for PC bulbs, as I have not run any until they shift and have never run a Quantum meter on them.

MH bulbs will last up to 10 or 11 months worth of once a day starts, regardless of the amount of time the bulbs are run with each start on cap and coil ballasts. I am seeing a plateau for the readings for the XM bulbs and the Iwasaki bulbs I am running on the new style HQI electronic ballasts that Icecap has (mogul bulbs) and I am at almost 12 months now with these particular bulbs on Icecaps electronic ballasts. I used to think it was only the number of starts regardless of the ballasts, but evidently either these bulbs are better for the total number of starts or the ballasts are making them last longer, not even sure if they really are lasting longer either, but the numbers still look good.

On the specific topic, I have to ask if you've been doing water changes all along, or is this is the first one, or if you do it occasionally? How heavily do you feed, and have you been exporting any of the nutrients by any means other than skimming during this time period? Carbon use? Phosban or other GFH product? Substrate? (sorry, I haven't been following the 105 thread)

[Viv]

Did you check your ammonia level?

[Loverotties]

I do my cp every 6 months.Just did it last week and see a BIG difference.

[reefBoyDc]

How's your Alk, Rich? Since I've been serious about monitoring and adjusting mine, everything has been doing much better.

[btang]

Originally Posted by Viv

Did you check your ammonia level?

I dont really bother to test for Ammonia levels (I do have the seachem Ammonia alert in the tank), fish are doing fine, and other corals are doing fine.

[btang]

Originally Posted by reefBoyDc

How's your Alk, Rich? Since I've been serious about monitoring and adjusting mine, everything has been doing much better.

Alk, hmmmm, I havent tested in a while, I'll check that out.

I also just changed the three elements of my RO (never changed before) my TDS was on the rise. Now its back to 0.