Slow Growing Tank

[nomorenames]

Ill start with the tank specs-54gal corner tank 10"x 21"x 12" berlin style sump 2 65w 460nm actinics 1 250w MH 14000k(just changed from 10000k)Blueline magnetic ballast, mag 9.5 for return erou-reef rs80 skimmer, 50gpd RODIw/ato,phos-ban reactor w/carbon and GFO k1and k3 for powerheads 60#s of live rock 1"-2" mix of med. agrogite and southdown sand
Bioload-tomato clown,pj cardnial,midas blenny,green carpet anemone
Corals-Frogspawn,GSP,green button polyps,mini zoos,green trumpet,purple pipe organ?,3 SPS I cant ID off hand, 3 rics, 2 mushrooms
Water Param. Ammonia-0-api,Nitrite-0-api,Nitrate-5.0-api,Phosphate-0-api,Magnesium-1470-sailfert,PH-7.9-8.0-api&sailfert,Temp-79-81,Salinity-1.026 swing arm style(i know),Alkalinity-10DKH-Lamonte,Calcium-420-api,TDS-1-4
This tank has been set up for 2 years and the only thing that grows is the frogspawn,GSP and trumpet, no mushrooms no rics no zoos and no sps they live (barely) but do not grow any input from you guys would help I tried to include everything in here i could think of in here thanks in advance

[ludnix]

Got any pictures?

What brand of MH bulb are you using?

You can get a refractometer for about $25 off ebay, I would just get one to make sure your salinity is accurate, swing arms can be drastically off.

[luther1200]

What do you feed the tank? Maybe the corals aren't getting enough food.

[socalchris]

water change, water change, water change...

how often?

i find that when i go long periods without doing a water change, my growth slows down significantly, if not completely.

i once went maybe three months without a water change with poor growth on my 60gal. one day i decided to do a 10gal WC and within a week or two my GSP had grown significantly, as well as my green digi and red montipora...

[nomorenames]

I was using reeflux's 10000k I changed to a cheap SPS(South Paacfic Sunlight) brand for the 14000k just to try it I feed oyster eggs when i feed the fish I change the water every other week 10gal i do plan on getting a refractometer I will post some photos but the camara isnt all that good or maybe the operator

[nomorenames]

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[mystikdragon7]

You sure do have some killer coralline algae growth on the sides of the tank!! I do agree though about what brand of MH lights are you using, and do you feed phyto to your tank? You should really get a refractometer. I used swing arms for the first couple of years and then got a refractometer as a gift. I couldn't believe the difference in readings to two gave me. The swing arm was waaaaaay off!!

[nomorenames]

yeah I might try the Phenix 14000k ive heard good thing about them, had to see if i would like the 14000k 1st, i dont feed phyto and next week ill get a refractometer

[mystikdragon7]

You should try phyto, it really makes a difference, or even try cyclopese.

[nomorenames]

i do use freeze dried cyclopese and oyster eggs and mysis when i feed i forgot to put that earlier

[screamincamaro]

If all of your parameters are in check I'd double check your phosphates with a hanna. Your average test kit will not be accurately test down far enough to where your SPS like it. Phosphates will slow/stunt growth.

I feed nothing to my SPS and all have good growth.

How do you replenish your Alk/Calcium?
How often you change your carbon/GFO?
Do you use filter socks and how regularly do you change them?
How oftern do you do water changes and how much?
How much flow do you have in the tank (low flow can effect SPS growth)?
WHen is the last time you changed your RO/DI and what is your TDS reading coming out?

After all that I'd look at your lighting.

[dogstsx]

I agree 100% with chris and camaro. Water changes & Flow. My display is 90gal and I do an 18% water change each week everyweek. Our Params. r about the same but my nitrates are a little less then half of yours. I really don't have any top of the line equip, just ur average skimmer, powerheads, and pump. I was sceptical about going with some sps but Terry (KillerBee) talked me into it, and i haven't looked back. If everything is up 2 par and u haven't had any growth in 2 years then maybe theres something else in the tank, maybe something that u haven't tested for. copper maybe? Just a thought I guess.

[nomorenames]

Originally posted by screamincamaro
If all of your parameters are in check I'd double check your phosphates with a hanna. Your average test kit will not be accurately test down far enough to where your SPS like it. Phosphates will slow/stunt growth.

I feed nothing to my SPS and all have good growth.

How do you replenish your Alk/Calcium?
How often you change your carbon/GFO?
Do you use filter socks and how regularly do you change them?
How oftern do you do water changes and how much?
How much flow do you have in the tank (low flow can effect SPS growth)?
WHen is the last time you changed your RO/DI and what is your TDS reading coming out?

After all that I'd look at your lighting.

I agree with the phosphate test the api is hard to tell, $ is kind of tight so ill have to give that some time, I use kent super buffer for alk and brightwell cal dosed about 1 time a week alk seems to drop faster than cal but they stay within range, i chang the carbon and gfo every two months filter socks get changed every 3 days i change the water every other week (ive steped this up to every week for the past 2 weeks)10gal, flow is from a mag 9.5
3/4pvc split as it enters the tank with those flex jets thing and a k1 and a k3 for powerheads the RODI has a TDS 1-4

[nomorenames]

i know that the SPS corals can be difficult but i would think the zoos and mushrooms wouldnt be so picky

[screamincamaro]

Not sure what your demand is but I would at least try to go to daily dosings of alk/calc. When I used to do two part I noticed a lot better growth after I started using a doser. I think dumping it is was hard on the corals. You can burn the corals w/ alk.

Not sure what area of FL you are but FAOIS in Tampa has a Hanna to test phosphates. If you are local I'd take your water in there and have them test everything. Just to compare if they get the same results as your test kits.

I'd expect your RO/DI TDS to be zero if it is working right.

What gph is your return pump rated as?

[nomorenames]

Originally posted by ludnix
Got any pictures?

What brand of MH bulb are you using?

You can get a refractometer for about $25 off ebay, I would just get one to make sure your salinity is accurate, swing arms can be drastically off.

just got that refractometer from ebay thanx

[nomorenames]

Originally posted by screamincamaro
Not sure what your demand is but I would at least try to go to daily dosings of alk/calc. When I used to do two part I noticed a lot better growth after I started using a doser. I think dumping it is was hard on the corals. You can burn the corals w/ alk.

Not sure what area of FL you are but FAOIS in Tampa has a Hanna to test phosphates. If you are local I'd take your water in there and have them test everything. Just to compare if they get the same results as your test kits.

I'd expect your RO/DI TDS to be zero if it is working right.

What gph is your return pump rated as?

I tested daily for cal and alk and it never droped until 4-5

my pump is rated for max gph 950 800gph at 4ft

even w/ new filters after about a day my TDS is 1-4

ill take my water to FAOIS tomorrow to see how far i am off

[nomorenames]

i took my water in to be tested and all the parameters were pretty much the same salinty was off 1.022 to my 1.026 and mag was 1100 could this be my problem