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Well, I just got the new lighting and am transitioning. Before last month, I just had two 50/50 Normal Output 40W CoraLife bulbs. When I got the new ballast, I really was not sure what bulbs to buy, but ended up getting four URI Actinic White 110W. I installed two of these and the two 50/50...

C-Balance is a two-part additive. Not sure of the ingredients, but here is the description: Supplies your reef with calcium, strontium, magnesium, and trace elements, while buffering at the same time. It is a two part, balanced ionic, marine supplement that produces an ionic residual with the...

Before this gets lost too far back in the thread, I'll post it again . . . So, once I get the Ca verified and things are balanced, what is the proper course for the two additives that I had been using -- the Seachem Marine Buffer and the C-Balance? Should I trash the buffer and continue to use...

Second picture . . .

Okay, since I have gotten no reply, I am guessing that maybe me description is unclear. So, I am attaching 2 photos. The first is a shot of the tank showing the wooden canopy. The second shot shows the glass canopies that I am questioning. Any ideas???

I hope you get a good answer, because I am fuzzy on this too. KH is the closest thing to Alkalinity that I can find, and I think that they are directly related. My LFS did not have any saltwater Alk test kit, and there was a display that listed the KH as Alkalinity, so maybe someone can give...

Thanks Bang Guy! I really appreciate your advise and the time that you devote to helping the hobby! My LFS told me the same thing about the purifier, but I was not sure but whether they were not stretching it a bit to make a sale. Regardless, it is pretty simple to use and I have been pleased...

I filter the tap water with Aquarium Pharm's Tap Water Purifier to create purified deionized water. I am told that this is almost as good as RO water. Anyway, I then cycle this water with a heater, powerhead, and air pump for 12 to 24 hours. Then, I add the salt to the 80 degree water by...

I have a 55 gallon aquarium with a full size wooden canopy with 4 VHO fluorescent lights. The canopy completely covers and rests on the top of the aquarium. Between the lights and the water I have two 24” all-glass hinged versa tops. I have had these glass tops since long before getting the...

Okay, for the past two weeks I have been doing frequent water changes of between 4 and 12 gallons each on average every other day. All told, I have put well over 50 gallons of new water in the tank (yeah, I know, each time I am also removing lots of new water also). Anyway, KH is now reading...

Slowly levels are improving . . . Now Ca is at 250 (up from 180) and KH is at 13 (down from 17). This is after about 4 water changes of 4-5 gallons each.

Okay, in previous threads over the past few days, y'all have helped me determine that my Ca is extraordinarily low (180 at last test; probably just over 200 now) and Alk is high (17 at last test). I have been doing 4-5 gal water changes every 1 - 3 days to try to get these back in line. Ph...

Jumping back a couple of posts, I'd still be interested in the following . . . What do you think are ideal readings for Ca and KH? Keep in mind that I am now fish only and "crew" but want to transition to reef after I get my water right.

My lack of detail on the mixing of water is because I have only recently changed to a more acceptable way and am still working out the system. Until finding this forum about a month ago, I had always just mixed and poured -- no "curing" -- just making sure temp and SG was right. For the past...

Okay, here are the numbers . . . The KH (Alkalinity) in the tank is 17 I also ran tests on the water that I am curing to add on my water change tomorrow. That water is showing a 330 on Calcium and a 5 on KH (Alkalinity). So . . . I am thinking that increase the frequency or amount of water...

You are correct. After many months of all to infrequent water changes I am back on a steady routine and trying to raise back up Ca and trace elements. Ca has come up 30 from 150 about 3 weeks ago. I don't want to spike things too quickly, so I am changing 4-5 gallons once or twice weekly...

Thanks Guys. I'll test and post numbers as suggested -- also I'll get an Alk test kit. I am going out of town, so it may be as late as Monday before I can get an update (hopefully sooner though). Tripp

Bang Guy asked: Can you describe how you mix your saltwater? Up until the past month I just mixed and poured (Instant Ocean) – and had been doing this for 10 years with no identified problems. Browsing on this board lately, I have learned and am now mixing with a powerhead in a clean 5 gallon...

Water changes -- I have done weekly water changes for the past 4 weeks since adding a crew and 2 fish. Each has been 5 gallons; so I have changed 20 +/- gallons in the course of the past month. I am using Instant Ocean. I have kits to test for pH, Amonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Calcium, and...

I am trying to get my fish only tank (well, fish + crew) acceptable for other inhabitants. I do not use RO water, but use water filtered and deionized with the Aquarium Pharmaceutical's Tap Water Purifier. pH is at 8.3, amonia, nitrite, and nitrate are at 0 (well, nitrate is actually just...