Newbie could use some pointers

[WuHT]

Its a 150 gallon, I don't really have a set water change schedule, but it seems about 10% biweekly, sometimes more, sometimes less.

I'm using the instant ocean brand (mainly due to cost) but i've being using this for a long time, and it just seemed like the problems have started recently.

Actually the T5s are HO (how does one tell if the bulbs are bad ?) I had the NO T5 strip lights before and the bulb simply wouldn't work (thats when i changed it).

Value wise, maybe just spending more on higher grade "reef" salt might be the better fix as opposed to going out to get test kits/dosing material, but I was just curious because i've been using IO for a long time. The whole point of the fowlr was supposed to be a low maintenance tank (free hitchhiker corals that I should try to save though)? I don't want to sound like I already had a plan set before I asked, but i'm trying to gather some opinions here.

[reefwars]

water changes are one of the most important maintenace things you need to do to keep your tank healthy regardless of the salt you use and what your dosing and it needs to be regular and around 10% a week is ideal . like myka said i too would go with h2Ocean i find it to be a better quality salt for a little more and a better quality salt goes along way . buy all the test kits you can and check for everything and post your findings here including temp and salinity. how much liverock do you have in your tank?? and what kind of livestock maybe something is eating your corals or nipping any new fish lately???

not sure how to tell if the bulbs are worn im sure someone knows a trick but i do know that if you dont know how old they are then you need new ones, if you have had this set for 1-2 yrs as stated and have not changed the bulbs you should asap, bulbs need to be replaced roughly once a year(8-9mths) if they dont your corals wont get their colour and grow properly and you may evenb end up with algae problems,

post some pics of the corals your talking about so we can see for ourselves plus i like to see others tanks lol cheers

[WuHT]

Originally Posted by reefwars

like myka said i too would go with h2Ocean i find it to be a better quality salt for a little more and a better quality salt goes along way

really ? The way I see it h2ocean looks to be almost double the price of IO, with seachem in between (judging by the prices @ JL). Now I suppose the value (not the cost) of the salt is something more in the eye of the beholder, and i'm willing to try it out, but i'm just curious more about the part where you said it was for only" a little more". Obviously if you guys know a good deal i'm all ear

[reefwars]

the way i see it is you pay for what you get, to me an extra 30 bucks isnt much when im only using 12gallons of saltwater a week so a pale does me quite a while i can see price being a problem if you need to make a couple tankloads in a hurry. i use to use instant ocean but after visiting some other peoples tanks the proof is in the puddin, ill only use two kinds now h2ocean or reefers best.im sure others will ring in the exact differences as some have been testing to see whats better but i bet the majority of the better tanks are using h2ocean cheers

[reefwars]

even though IO is cheaper it needs more trace elements added, calcium the big one as far as i know......