Purple Algae???

[holidayrj]

I'm planning to get a new lighting fixture, but not sure which one yet. I do know that it has to be something I can use with a hood, because my house has air blown heat, so in the winter I can loose up to 1/2 gallon of water a day due to evaperation.

[jhnrb]

get a test kit for iodide/iodine and keep your levels at sea water for that coral.

[holidayrj]

I got a Red Sea Marine Lab test kit yesterday, here's the values. I know that I need the Iodone, Iodide testers (thanks John), but do I need anything else tester wise while I'm buying. Only the essentials please!!! Is there a tester for Calcium? Anyway here's the values of normal tests:
Temp. - 88F
Alk - low-normal
Ph - 8.4
Amm - 0
NO2 - I'd say < 0
NO3 - I'd say < 0
Salinity -1.022

Well, I'd say that was a disaster. The pamplets don't tell me the normals, but I don't think I should be getting 0's. I dunno. SW tanks are stupid Lol I guess I'm gonna take a sample to my LPS tomorrow after work, and see what they can tell me. I'm new to the whole testing thing. Up untill recently, I was a self taugh SW enthusiest, so no fancy smancy chem lab then. Oh well, soon I can have my corals!!

Ok on to other questions. I'm looking into the Coralife Lunar Aqualight Deluxe Series - Double Linear Strip It seems like a good light, and a pretty good deal. But I'm a lil confussed, I read the article about lighting, and with my approx. 55gal, I need 190-250Watts (or something like that). This is lower watts, but if I remember from the reading it's ok, cause it's the compact. Same depth penetration, lower watts. Am I right on this understanding, and has anyone had experience with one of these lighting fixtures? That's all the questions I'll ask for now, thank you again Reefing Gods!!!

[jhnrb]

was your temperature a misprint. if it is truley 88 degrees you need to lower it 8 to 10 degrees, if you meant 78 degrees you are ok. your Ph is high for the salinity you are reading unless temperature is 88 then dosnt mean much until temperature is lowered. lower temperature to 78 - 80 degrees and retest everything. If what you want to keep is soft corals you should be ok but for some of the more light demanding corals you may want at least one mh at 175 watt. good luck.

[amonya]

Yes They Have Calcuim Test Kits You Will Also Need Nitrite ,nitrate If You Do Not All Ready Have Man You Must Have A Good Heater In Your Aqurim To Have The Tep That High If Not A Typ O Thats Really Up There I Keep Mine Around 79 -81 For Faster Metabolism Effect And Hopefully Faster Growth But My Gorgiania Hates Me For It But She Adapted.also To Keep My Water Temp Constant Instead Of Fluctuating

[holidayrj]

oopps yea it was 82F. This was froma mercury floating therm. My little sister helped me put water in the tank about 2 weeks ago, and "missed" totaly soaking my digital therm output. It was a shocking experience for some of us (me). But, it bit the dust. I'm gonna turn it down just a lil. And, hopefully get those LPS water testing results posted tonight.

[minireefer]

If you have canopy hood coralife makes a nice retro fit light 48" 4x65. This will work good for softies and some LPS hard corals They are $178 or $212 for the one your looking at on hellolights.com.I am using the 24" 2 x65 in my 29 gallon.If you can aford to go matel halide then for your tank size they would be the most efective.If you cant locate an abaloni locally a fighting conch will do a good job help the algae battle and keep the sand stired also.

[holidayrj]

well, I did it I mustered up the courage to pay that big bill, and got the halide. It's on it's way from NC. Should be here next week sometime. It's only money right?!? I also sprung for the new test kits for both the marine, and the reef testing, a new hydrometer, and a new digital them. Read the article that hydrometers are only good for 6 months, and mine is way older than that.(2-4 years) So maybe I have that issue as well. Hopefully not, I have enough problems as it is. But so by next week I should have the precise temp, and all the chemical measurements, as well as my new protein skimmer up and running, and the Halide blaring sweet sweet sunlight!! And it will be worth every penny if I can have my corals I'll post everything as soon as I get the box that cost a pretty .

[jhnrb]

Thanks for the update. keep us posted. good fishin

[minireefer]

Nice choice.enjoy