Reef tank lighting questions

[tsteves]

I have been trying to have coral in my tank for awhile and I am not having much luck. I have a 48 gallon tank that has been established for about two years now.
I have been told many things by the local pet stores here and I still am failing. I was told to get rid of my penguin filter and get a protein skimmer which I did. I was told to get better lights twice, which I have done. I now have a power pack coralife with 10,000k 96 watt and Actinic 96 watt.
I am now being told that I should have a VO light. Can someone help me with why I cannot keep corals alive. I check my chemicals weekly and every thing seems okay. Could it still be the Lighting. What is VO lighting. My pet store person swears that that is what I need for corals.

 

[thomas712]

Much of your answer will depend on what type of corals you are trying to keep, could you list them?
With the lighting you have you should be able to keep mushrooms and leathers and some other softies.
NO= normal output
HO= high output
VHO= Very High Outupt
PC= power compact
Not sure what VO light is. :notsure:
Also are you keeping your calcium at 400-430 ppm and checking your alkalintiy?
Salinitiy at about 1.025 or 35ppt
What corals have you tried?

 

[tsteves]

I have tried in the corals , bubble coral, leather cabbage green star polypand some others. In the inverts I have tried many different sea anemones, devills fingers and have nothing to show as of now. They usually live about three to four months.
I have been checking alkalinity and salinity, nitrate levels,nitrite levels, and amonia levels. I have never checked calcium levels.
I was told to use the following Kent marine products to my tanks:
coral- vite
essential elemments
Phytoplex
iodine

 

[sand125]

i would get MH lighting