maximize my coral growth

[alienspacepirate]

This is my tank setup. The 10 gallon has some softy frags. It gets an interesting flow.. cascades from the 55 into the 10 then out the box to the sump. Every minute or so the air builds up in the cascade tube and then pushes out a faster flow in the tank.. which gives a nice 'wave' effect.

[hobogato]

cool setup, since you are trying to maximize coral growth, i would have to agree with others that pc lights are not the best choice. also, when you change as planned, you will be much happier with t5 actinics instead of keeping the pc lights for actinics - ime (i held on to those pc lights as actinics for years and when i finally changed to t5, kicked myself for not doing it sooner)

[alienspacepirate]

yeah the problem is I'm not exactly raking in the cash these days due to the economy.. job is paying now 1/2 of what I was getting pre 2008.

[ballardjr2000]

Then I would get a nice t-5 setup MH will cost MORE. I am running 2 (4bulb) fixtures on my 90g tank total light wattage of 432w. I have a cocera clam and plenty of corals all do well even my ricordia in deferent levels of the tank. The clam is about mid tank and has grown like crazy.

[ErikH]

I run 800 watts over a 75g 12 hours per day.

Maintain and test your Ca Alk and Mg. Keep a log of your daily dosing regimen.

Feeding helps be it zoas lps or sps.

[ballardjr2000]

HOLY CRAP 800watts on a 75 WOW. do your fish get sunburns lol

[alienspacepirate]

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.

[Europhyllia]

I got a calcium tester and my calcium is doing good 540ppm.

Is that a typo? (could it be 450 instead?)
what's your alkalinity.
If your alkalinity is higher your pH tends to stay higher. Higher alkalinity also helps precipitate phosphates so that would help with algae, etc.

[Salty]

Jack that pH up to at least 8.2. Test your alk like Karin said. I run mine at 11dkh and subscribe to higher is better school. What kit measured a 540 calc? If it is that high you likely have a really low alk situation. Which kit do you use for nitrate?

[drunkenclam]

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?