Multiple Questions - water, lighting, coral, etc.

My tank has been stocked about three weeks now. I have a 12 gal nano w/ a pair of small clowns (they'll move to the bigger tank later), a yellow clown goby, a peppermint shrimp and an assortment of corals, snails and crabs.

I was running the regular JBJ Nano light (a PC bulb, not 50/50). I bought an actinic light yesterday and put it in last night. I also brought home a pretty good sized frogspawn frag.

Here are my questions.

My PH and my alk are both low. (PH is around 7.0 - 7.4, not sure about the alk but I'm checking again soon) I'm planning on doing a water change here in a little bit to see if I can't pull it up some. It's been running on the low but okay range but this morning it was suddenly real low (been testing every morning the last three days to watch it). Aside from the water change, any suggestions to raise it but not fast/high?

Second, I'm new to this actinic lighting (or any special lighting for that matter). Is there anything special I need to know about it? I was leaving my PC bulbs on pretty much all day and leaving them off all night. Is it okay to do that with the actinic or do they need to be left on for shorter or longer times?

Third, I currently have some zoas, a small kenya tree, a thriving xenia, a leather that refuses to attach and the new frogspawn. Aside from those, are there any other corals that I can introduce to my tank now that I have the actinic lighting? I've heard I can have duncans, is that true?

Thanks for your help guys!

 

7.0 pH???????

Are you sure of your test kit or probe???? That does not sound right...

What is your salinity level???

M

 

As of right now I'm using the Mardel 5 n 1 strips. My hydrometer is reading 1.025, which is what it normally reads. I'll go test again just to make sure I wasn't seeing things this morning.

 

I fed about two hours ago. Either I was seeing things this morning or the feed brought things up a bit (don't even know if that's possible)

Right now it looks to be between 7.4 and 7.8. The alk may be a little low but it's okay.

(I know, I know about the strips.. waiting on my master kit to come in the mail. =) )

 

I would suggest taking a water sample to your local fish store and asking them to test it. Something is amiss.....

You might want to scan this and consider a refractometer. Specific Gravity Notes
M

 

Test strips aren't accurate, and neither are hydrometers.

 

I know I need a refractometer. I'm hoping I can get one with the next paycheck =)

 

Even more important is a real test kit. The strips are way inaccurate, even by hydrometer standards.

 

I ordered a master test kit last week. It should be here tomorrow or Tuesday. I do have that going for me. =) It's hard for me to get to the LFS because it's an hour away but I'm goign to try to go that way today.

Aside from all of this, does anyone have any helpful advice about my lighting?

 

Actinic is a color of light, not a type. Usually, when people can, they run actinics for an hour before and after the daylights are on.