Quote Originally Posted by alienspacepirate View Post
Update: I've been adding kent's superbuffer dkh daily to increase my ph (is 7.8) and then will do coralbuilder when its past ~8.1.

I got a calcium tester and my calcium is doing good 540ppm. I'm also going to step up my water changes to 5gal weekly. I still have a lot of diatoms and hair algae which would indicate to me that I still have a lot of nitrates even though they test negative (because they are eating it).

Right now I think I am on a right track just will need time and more 'husbandry' on my part.
if your bulbs are new and power compacts your corals should do o.k.
but as previously mentioned if you want growth upgrading to t-5 or mh would be best.

from your pics it does appear you have an algae problem. since you stated you use ro/di (good filters?) you may have a nutrient problem.

for a 55 with low nutrient requirements the 5gal a week should show improvement. just watch the feeding.

what kind of skimmer you running?