Corals turning almost white

[CandyCane]

I was told on many website to keep salt lower for corals and in the 1.025 for fish tanks. Yes the are high output T5's they are ordered from big als specially and they are meant for corals. However since I havent replaced the bulbs since I bought the light used maybe it could just be time to replace them?

[reefwars]

less salt would be better for fish not so much corals the key is to not have to high a salinity or one that fluctuates....1.025 is ideal

when they say on big als website the lights are good for corals they are being pretty basic as it is good for corals but if you want to keep corals that demand higher lights then theyre not the best

another thing is to remember is big als will tell you anything to sell you anything....its something we all have learned...they just dont give good advise as their workers arent really experienced

[whatcaneyedo]

Websites are great for opinion but poor for facts. Put your faith in books written by scientists and industry experts.

"There is a similar range for acceptable salinity, but it is a narrow band, around 35 to 36 parts per thousand (ppt). At normal reef temperatures temperatures, this is a specific gravity of about 1.025 - 1.026."

p15 Marine Invertebrates by Ronald L. Shimek, PH. D. 2004

This must be the light? http://www.aquaticlife.com/products/286#1 I don't think I've ever seen 18" HO T5 bulbs for sale before. Does Big Als sell replacement bulbs in their store? I don't see them on their site. The recommended replacement schedule for T5s is up to every 6 months I believe. I personally don't follow that with my own fixture but I'm sure some people do.

Is your 20gal only 20" long?

[Aquaria]

That can't be the fixture cuz thats what I got( a 4bulb t5ho at that ) and my coral are not bleaching my ponci is fine and my borneman nem moved from the top to the sand now if the bulbs are old they should be replaced at least once a year as for salinity yes 1.025 is for reefs anything lower is fish only also I used to shop at big ALS when I lived in Alberta and yes te will tell you whatever u wanna hear so long as u leave with there products aquarium illusions and blue world are deff the better choices if u want good advice ( red coral wasn't open yet so i have nothing to say about them)

[Aquaria]

Also big ALS only sell IMHO cheap bulbs I would spend the little extra buying brands like ATI, KZ, and guiseman( wrong spelling)

[CandyCane]

http://www.current-usa.com/lighting/nova-extreme-pro

its model 1083