XM Bullb replacement

reefr · 03-18-2006, 04:38 PM

I'm running my MH 10,000k XM bulbs on my 90G for about 10 months now they still look very crisp but I'm having a problem with hair algae, I checked my water parameters Nitrates=0 Phosphate=0 I'm using RO/DI for top-off and water changes with 0 PPM on my TDS meter,I feed lightly once a day, make water changes 20% monthly could it be that my 10 month old XM's be the problem? I even cut down from 8HR to 7 Hr lighting period. I Added 5 Mexican turbos about 1 1/2" in size each and 3 sea hare (lettuce nudibranch) about a month ago plus I have about 50 astreas countless bluelegged hermit crabs, the algea is actually growing on the astrea's shell! could it be that my Xm's gone bad?any advice? am I missing something?
Thanks in advance for your replies.

skeety · 03-20-2006, 08:08 AM

bump^

(didn't see you mention a skimmer anywhere. What's your method of nutrient exporting?)

reefr · 03-20-2006, 08:39 PM

sorry,I'm running a Euro-Reef CS6+2 skimmer also a 20g refugium with 5 mangroves and some chaeto.

know-it-all · 03-20-2006, 09:46 PM

I talked with the guys at www.Hellolights.com

they told me to look for a blackening on the filament inside the bulb
this doesn't mean it needs to be replaced, it just means it's getting there

side note, how much current in the tank?
when is the last time you cleaned power heads/pumps out?

this may be a greater cause of HA than bad lights

reefr · 03-21-2006, 06:02 PM

Thanks for the responses, knowitall, I will check for the blackening inside the bulb, as far as the current or water movement,
I'm running a 3600GPH Sequence Dart on a closed loop with the OceansMotions 4-way unit and a 960GPH iwaki for the return.
I think the water movement is ok .

goodfortune · 03-21-2006, 06:25 PM

From your flow scheme it doesn't seem that flow would be a problem for you. It seems that you're doing a good job keeping up your WC regimen as well as tackling nutrient control.

How old is your tank? Do you know what your Alk and pH (with lights on and off) values are? Do you have a deep or shallow sand bed? Let us know to see if we can help...

- Michael

reefr · 03-21-2006, 06:45 PM

The tank it will be 3 years old in september this year with a sand bed about 3" (Tampa Bay Live Rock and sand) Alk it's 9.8 DKH (only tested with lights on) , PH is 8.2 with lights on and 7.9 with lights off, also running a CA reactor with CA at 450. ALK and CA are always steady. Temp is 76 to 78.