How To Get Good Coral Growth

yzfr6 · 12/22/2009, 10:51 PM

I have had my reef up and going for 8 months now and I keep getting told by people that monti's are fast growers. I hardly notice any growth on any of my corals except GSP of course. I do notice growth though. I check my calcium and it never gets below 450 before doing water changes. So why is it that I see pics of other peoples tanks showing the beginning and after several months there is a noticeable difference. Do I need to be doing supplements? I didn't think I had to until the calcium was being consumed at a more rapid pace? If I should supplement what does everyone recommend? Thanks for your help.

Boundless · 12/22/2009, 11:26 PM

Am just wondering what is your lighting period.

cveverly · 12/22/2009, 11:28 PM

What kind of light? How log is it on? How is your alk and mag?

rbnice1 · 12/23/2009, 12:04 AM

Very stable alk, calc, and mag. Alk is most important imo.
Good lighting on the right photo period.
Really high random flow!

Also some montis are fast growers others are slow. For example, I have rainbow monti, chilipepper monti and red/brown monti cap thats fast, but my superman monti, sunset monti, pink cap are very slow.

jbird69 · 12/23/2009, 01:04 AM

Your corals cannot utilize the calcium without proper alk levels. Your dkh should be around 9 and kept rock solid.

carpas · 12/23/2009, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbnice1

Very stable alk, calc, and mag. Alk is most important imo.
Good lighting on the right photo period.
Really high random flow!

Also some montis are fast growers others are slow. For example, I have rainbow monti, chilipepper monti and red/brown monti cap thats fast, but my superman monti, sunset monti, pink cap are very slow.

+1 on stability. I noticed a positive response in my corals in short order when I went from my previous, haphazard dosing to figuring out my tank's demand and dosing once a day. Now I just need to get some dosing pumps!

Zestay · 12/23/2009, 01:37 AM

also its hard to notice coral growth.. its best done by pictures over a few months..

12/22/2009, 10:51 PM	#1
yzfr6 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 111	How To Get Good Coral Growth I have had my reef up and going for 8 months now and I keep getting told by people that monti's are fast growers. I hardly notice any growth on any of my corals except GSP of course. I do notice growth though. I check my calcium and it never gets below 450 before doing water changes. So why is it that I see pics of other peoples tanks showing the beginning and after several months there is a noticeable difference. Do I need to be doing supplements? I didn't think I had to until the calcium was being consumed at a more rapid pace? If I should supplement what does everyone recommend? Thanks for your help.

12/23/2009, 01:04 AM	#5
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	Your corals cannot utilize the calcium without proper alk levels. Your dkh should be around 9 and kept rock solid. __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

12/22/2009, 11:26 PM	#2
Boundless Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Richardson,Texas Posts: 140	Am just wondering what is your lighting period.

12/22/2009, 11:28 PM	#3
cveverly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port Clinton, Oh Posts: 1,470	What kind of light? How log is it on? How is your alk and mag?

12/23/2009, 12:04 AM	#4
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	Very stable alk, calc, and mag. Alk is most important imo. Good lighting on the right photo period. Really high random flow! Also some montis are fast growers others are slow. For example, I have rainbow monti, chilipepper monti and red/brown monti cap thats fast, but my superman monti, sunset monti, pink cap are very slow.

12/23/2009, 01:37 AM	#7
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	also its hard to notice coral growth.. its best done by pictures over a few months..