Got the ballasts

[jedimaster]

Well I decided to buy a single 175 to test it out and if I like it I'll get a second one. I bought it and assembled the unit this morning and I am now waiting to hear back on a deal on a sunburst bulb. If I find it hasn't added enough light then I'll sell it off and buy a pair of 400's.
P.S. I tested my calcium levels at 440 ppm Is that high enough for corals or should I get some aragamilk or kalkwasser or whatever.

[zhenya]

Jedi,
What size tank you have?I have a pair of 175w AB 10K and pair of vho's actinics and happy with it.All depends what type of corals you planning to keep I think,hight of your tank and so on...
As far as your calcium level,nsw has level
of 385-400 ppm.What is your alk level with that calcium reading that you have?

[jedimaster]

My tank is 24" deep its a 90 gallon, I would like to house a clam and I am not sure about what corals yet but I like all of them. I'll test alk, this will sound stupid but is alk the same as PH? I don't think so but it seems like some posts interchange them.

[zhenya]

Jedi,
I think if you fire a couple of DE HQI 250w 10K,you'll be able to keep just about anything.No,alk and pH is not same thing and if you like to read up on it and especially about relationship between alk and pH,you should sheck couple of articles by Dr.Randy Holmes-Farley at
www.advancedaquarist.com
On my 110 gal(60x18x24) I have a 2 250w 10k Ushio's and I have clams and sps in there.I also have 2 140w vho act.
in there as well.

[zhenya]

Jedi,
here is a pic with 250w 10k and vho's on.

[jedimaster]

beautiful tank. I'll see how it goes with these 175's I may end up with something bigger I'll have to see first. What kind of wrasse is that its really cool looking.

[zhenya]

Thanks Jedi.Well,there is two wrasses on the pic.The closest one is Coris aygula or twin spot wrasse and traling behind is six-line.I would advise not to get the first one,as it gets quite large and changes colors and is pretty distractive towards DSB or even clams if they are on the smaller side.I watched him destroy and eat a 2.5" clam and now don't put anything smaller then 4-5" in this tank.I've tried just about everything I know and can't catch him to trade in I think a line and sinker is my next step I didn't know about them much 3yrs ago and did not know abot reefland or RC or other boards and advise you get from lFS is worth -0.2 cents sometimes.Please exuse such long post but you asked...

[jedimaster]

Nah much appreciated. I don't really plan on gettin a wrasse although a lunar wrasse sure is cool looking. I was talking about the spotted one btw I didn't see the six line. From what I read about them they are tireless swimmers and need at least a 6-7 foot long tank.

[zhenya]

Yea,wrasses are hit or miss thing.I have a six line in my 75gal and it's really small and don't bother anything,come to think of it,the bigger one never bother anything either.Unless I put a pepprmint shrimp in there,then it's expensive lunch
Stay away from the spotted one as it grows to 22" in the wild.I did not know it and now stock with him