Back on the boards ... good to be here. So .. Help Me!!!

[icemonkey24]

Hey people, I have a JBJ 12g Nano that I *just* upgraded the lighting for, and now have 2 24w bulbs. PS - One of them is a Pink/Blue 12000k blub "Helios Ultra Grow" - has anyone ever heard of this random thing??? Is it any good????

Anyways - for a while my corals haven't been growing, if anything, shrinking. I have Pom Pom Pulsating Xenias (that DON'T pulsate) and some nice purple mushroom guys. They don't seem to be healthy, but they aren't exactly dying off. (Don't Xenias grow like wildfire).

Tests:

pH is 8.3 (a little high??)
NO2 is zero
NO3 is zero
Ammonia (pretty darn close to 0)
Normal for Alk
1.022 of the hydrometer

I've had the cube for about a year. When I first got the Xenias, they were growing great. I moved, lost some, and ever since they have not really regenerated.

Do I need to change something in the filter (address the pH?) ... will the new upgraded lighting solve my every problem? Will anyone respond? I'll be checking like a madman for answers!

[treylane]

First: bump your salinity to 1.024-1.025 - that should help a lot.
Second: ditch the "grow" light - sounds like a freshwater light (saltwater tanks don't have pink lights)

[icemonkey24]

Here is what I did in the past few days:

The Ultra-Grow bulb was indeed ditched for another 10000k 50/50 bulb. Looks way better.

Move the rocks and location of the corals around.

Cleaned out my filter's pump, which turned out to be somewhat clogged.

Added one-half the recommended dosage of Tech-I (idodine).

Results:

The tanks was doing AMAZINGLY well yesterday and the Xenias were pulsating once again after not doing so in months. The mushrooms also were coming out moreso than before, so it seems the steps I have taken in the last week has turned my tank around. I'll be sure to post pics when I get my new Rebel XT in tomorrow :)