My 80 Gallon Reef

[cdearing]

A few weeks ago I noticed that one of my actinics had gone out. I started researching new bulbs and then a week later the other actinic went out. It's been a few weeks and Charlie went over to Spokane and picked up a couple for me. Unfortunately, when I replaced them in the fixture, they did not work. Neither of the actinic sockets seem to be working. Is there any way to replace those parts or do you think I need a whole new fixture? Meanwhile, my corals are bleaching out. Maybe someone has a fixture I could borrow while I figure this out? This all after my son went into the ditch this morning just outside of our driveway. I tried calling "the man" last night but didn't get a response.

[cdearing]

I've found replacement ballasts but they are for only two bulbs. When I look inside my Current USA light fixture, it looks like a four bulb ballast (what little I know about ballasts, which is nothing). The model # is 1122 for the light fixure and it pulls up these 2 bulb ballasts. WTH?

This is the fixture: Current USA Nova Extreme T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 4X54 Watt, 48 inch

This is what they say is a replacement part:Current USA Nova T5 Fluorescent 2 x 54 Watt T-5 Ballast

Any ideas?
Corals croaking.

[cdearing]

OK. Nevermind. I just got the low down from marineandreef.com . The guy there explained how the ballasts work and so I've got one one the way. I just hope that I will be successful in changing it out myself. Holy cr*#!
Meanwhile, I switched out one of the 10K's for an actinic and so have one of each running. Hopefully critters can hold on....

[DevonM]

Good luck! You can do it!

[cdearing]

Thanks Devon.

[cdearing]

Alert the media! I finally purchased some new powerheads for my tank. I just got 2 Tunze 6065's and installed them yesterday. The flow seems pretty strong compared to what I had before. Don't ask me. They were second hand. I was gettiing some red algae that was sticking to the rocks and sand (kind of clumps on the sand). I do not overfeed my fish and so am thinking that it is not a nutrient problem but a flow problem. I could be wrong. I'm hoping these will help. I'm just concerned about my torch, hammer and bubble corals. They are not used to the stronger flow. I'm wondering if they will get used to it or if I might need to get rid of them altogether. There isn't room to relocate them in my tank.

Also, my little yellow tailed damsel seemed to have lost nearly all of it's tail awhile back. He seemed to be improving. Maybe he got caught by one of the above mentioned corals and was able to wriggle free. Anyway, this morning when I got up and went to look at the tank, the damsel is MIA. I'm wondering if the stronger flow bothered it and he just gave up the ghost or what. Now I'm down to 2 fish in my tank. I might just have to break down and get another!

[Parrothead]

way to go, your babies will probably adjust to the flow just fine

[DevonM]

I've seen a few hammers take some pretty harsh flow on YouTube!

[cdearing]

I found my damsel. My fish are a little freaked out. She must've been just hiding. I'm trying to find the appropriate placement so everyone is happy. LPS are still doing OK. I guess they'll get used to it.