What exactly is 'alkalinity' ??

[reefD]

another way to battle ph night flux is setting sump/fuge lighting on an oposite schedule from tank. better yet 24/7. this helps reduce ph flux from night swings .

[facewedgie]

Originally posted by reefD
better yet 24/7.

im not so sure...wouldnt a reverse light schedule be better to control ph swings? explain why not if you disagree.

[ZURCSREEF]

Reverse lighting schedule is definately the best choice on display/fuge, helps to balance pH during the day, then at night so there isn't so many fluctuations through the time period of the tank. Having the fuge light on 24/7 brings you back to the same fluctuation problem you were having to start off with.

Just my .02,
-Mike C. aka ZURCSREEF

[reefD]

ahh either is ok but if you want to go into growing macro ill indilge you into botony.
ok here we go. plants grow in accordance with light/ so in the winter light is reduced past 12 hours. this makes plants go into hibernation period. then in the spring light increases. thus puts the plant into vegative growth. this is when the plant feeds the most ( like feeding on trates!). now when lights get reduced again like at night or when lights go out the begin to rest again. (not absorb trates). now in scientific plant studies science has found that triggering a plant into 24 hour vegative state has no impact on health. thus plant stays in growth phase. never stops eating. gets bigger anbd bigger but never fruits/buds/prepares for hibernation or death. plants cells all work the same.
now this benefits our tanks like this. the macro stays in feeding stage at all times. thus growing and feeding on trates. next it doesnt trigger a rest mode which can shift water chemistry. also it can prevent possible experiences like having macro go sexual. i say this cause you eliminate a possible trigger...lighting..back to plant school: cause less light may mean fall thus time to send out seed......prepare for death spread the gene. this can wreck your water chemistry as it gets really cloudy and white.
so leaving lights on 24 keeps the plant in vegative state and as science has told us it has no impact on health (remember other things like iron cantrigger issues but not lighting24hrs.) and by the way i and many reefers leave macro in 24hr photo period with no ill effect. it can only benefit and reduce possible factors of issues at night.
btw in plant studies triggering less light for just 24hrs can shift plants to a fruit stage (thus possible macro going sexual).
hopethis explains
good luck

[jester805]

Thanks for all of the info everyone. And, reefD, you have some great knowledge...I appreciate it.

Back to the original topic, I'm more curious if I should be worried about the alkalinity level? I've never had to worry about anything but my nitrAtes before. I'm looking at the tank now and it's VERY clear and appears to be thriving. I do have another test kit that I will use tomorrow.

To clear up the "Strawberry fish" mystery, I took some pictures of it.

[facewedgie]

no, no, no....
a reverse schedule REDUCES ph swings, as zurcsreef said.
your comparing algae to flowers and plants...

"this is when the plant feeds the most ( like feeding on trates!). now when lights get reduced again like at night or when lights go out the begin to rest again. (not absorb trates)."

algae is constantly "feeding on trates" to quote you.
the ph swings occur when algae stop photosynthesizing and produce co2 as opposed to oxygen, thus lowering ph. on a reverse schedule, algae in the fuge produce co2 (w/ lights off) while the display algae (zoxanthellae or otherwise) produce oxygen, and vice-versa (reverse lighting).

correct?!?

[reefD]

ahh upon further thought it may be a dottyback . not purple but a Magenta dotty back. now is magenta pink or purple? or inbetween?

[facewedgie]

...MOST commonly known as a purple pseudochromis...
not pink in the least, it is PURPLE! (i also could not resist...)

[jester805]

Originally posted by reefD
its a strawberry basslet/gramma
can be aggressive to any fish that has the slightest similair colration. great reef safe fish and hardy. not a bad pickup for a beginer. see it wasnt a bad chioce after all. LOL! cant help it!LOL

Well, it seems friendly....or more shy than anything. He usually keeps to himself and I have never seen him act agressive towards another fish.

[reefD]

algea flowers plants all have plant cells. again i do this and my macro grows faster thus using food to grow faster than your tank. thus using nutrients to built cells thus stripping water. the topic is very oppinionatesd as success can be found in either set up. i have full blown reef. sps and all with 24hr light schedule. my buddy does the opposite thing and his tank is very well balanced so. my only thing is that keeping water in 24hr light prevents ph swings ...try it...ive been doing it for a long time. im sure opposite schedule does the same but dosent do all the extra things as 24hrs schedule does.

[reefD]

macro dies when given too little light. humm plants do the same. humm so keeping lighting high will prevent death from lack of light right. now 24hr light doesnt effect the algea's health (again science studies say this) and it keeps lighting so high that even a chance of death from lack of liht will not occur. sounds simple but why wouldnt this be a good thing to avoid? JMO

[reefD]

look at this.magenta
http://www.das.com.hk/en/colors.htm

[reefD]

looks like purple

[sloshesv]

Well, that was interesting.