Acro finally decided to grow after 2 years

ReefsandGeeks · 08/21/2017, 06:37 AM

In my mixed reef, I have a few SPS, couple of LPS, and zoas. I had bought a nice frag of an Acro, and it started to encrust on the rock slowly, then stopped encrusting at a point. The branches never grew, even though it had good PE. I've had the acro for at least 2 years and never saw any growth except the encrusting on the rock. Other coral has grown quite well, including a birdsnest which is right next to the acro and has more than quadrupled in size.

Seemingly out of nowhere, I noticed the acro has started to grow a bit, one of the branches is longer, and seems to be starting another! I'm very excited to finally see some growth, but wish I could pinpoint what started the growth so I can make sure it continues.

Recent changes to my tank:
I've adjusted the lighting a bit as I moved some coral around. First darkened the tank, then worked my way back up to about where I was before over a few weeks.
I was adding pH buffer due to chronic low pH, and accidentally built up my alk to 14dKh. I sopped dosing the buffer, but continued adding kalk for topoff water a few days after. I need to check alk to see where it is now.
I also angles one of my powerheads differently, more towards the water surface near the acro, but not directly at it.

Anyone have any input on what might have caused the sudden growth? Any experience with coral just not growing, but seemingly healthy otherwise?

homer1475 · 08/21/2017, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devastator007

I was adding pH buffer due to chronic low pH, and accidentally built up my alk to 14dKh.

If I had to guess, this was probably the reason. Your alkalinity was jumping around from adding the buffer. Now your keeping it much more stable via kalk.

Typically numbers don't matter as long as they are within the recommended ranges, and kept stable.

mcgyvr · 08/21/2017, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

If I had to guess,

When multiple variables were changed,etc... all we have is guesses

I think its something about the eclipse..

Bobbitworm13 · 08/21/2017, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

When multiple variables were changed,etc... all we have is guesses

I think its something about the eclipse..

Ye this, lack of sunlight in midday causes coral to start growing if they stop growing, it's a proven fact

ReefsandGeeks · 08/22/2017, 07:31 AM

Well I'll just have to hope for more eclipses then. I jokingly thought I should turn down my lights for an hour to simulate the eclipse, since the fish didn't get to experience it.

I have been dosing kalk in top off water for years, but only recently started (and stopped) adding the pH buffer. My Alk normally was 8-9dKh. I didn't get a chance to check my parameters yesterday. should be able to find time today. pH has historically been around 7.6-7.8 as read by a calibrated pH pen. After I added enough buffer over a few days to get it to 8.3, the alk was 14 so I stopped that addition, and topped off with normal RODI for a couple days before going back to kalk.

I guess I'll try to keep things stable and hope growth continues.

mcgyvr · 08/22/2017, 08:20 AM

Usually "instability" isn't good.. But maybe it was a "kick in the pants" for that acro..
That lower PH wasn't really "bad" and many of the top dogs in this field run lower than recommend PH and do just fine but I have seen cases where people have claimed much better growth when their PH went up slightly..

ReefsandGeeks · 08/23/2017, 05:47 AM

Checked my parameters last night:
Alk-12dKh
Ca-460ppm
Mag-1380ppm
pH-7.88 (an hour after lights out)

I think I may purposely run my tank at 12dKh alk for a while and see if that helps growth. I know this is above normally recommended range, but I have a feeling that it may be contributing to my growth. Anyone see a problem running it that high? should I shoot for something different? regardless of the number, I'll keep it stable.

mcgyvr · 08/23/2017, 10:21 AM

Stability is more important than any specific number from my experience..

Seen quite a few people claim now that if they have very low nutrient systems that they couldn't run their alk that high without getting alk burn,etc... and were targeting much lower 7-8 ranges.. and had better results after they did lower it..

2wheelsonly · 08/23/2017, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devastator007

Checked my parameters last night:
Alk-12dKh
Ca-460ppm
Mag-1380ppm
pH-7.88 (an hour after lights out)

I think I may purposely run my tank at 12dKh alk for a while and see if that helps growth. I know this is above normally recommended range, but I have a feeling that it may be contributing to my growth. Anyone see a problem running it that high? should I shoot for something different? regardless of the number, I'll keep it stable.

The Alk number means nothing, it's all about what number you're confident you can maintain it. The most amazing tanks iv'e seen have alk of 7.5-8.0 and I have seen others take off with 11-12 which is a little high for me because if you start to get very low nutrients youre going to have tip burn.

Just make that number stable and your tank will grow.

How low was your chronic ph? 7.8 at night seems fairly common. Was it lower than that at one point? If so that could have helped growth when you got it under control.

ReefsandGeeks · 08/24/2017, 11:12 AM

My pH was commonly only around 7.4 or so during the day before. I would keep my alk at 9, but that's about the highest I could get my pH. I had decent surface agitation, and tried opening windows in the house, but nothing made much of a difference. I'd heard mixed reviews on CO2 scrubbers, but hadn't tried one because of the ongoing cost associated with them. I have limited extra cash I can put into the tank as I bought a house about a year ago (man the time flies) and now I have a baby due any day.

Whenever I'd test my Alk, I'd always get 9dKh, so I assumed it was stable. I don't know if I just happened to test when it was 9 every time when there could have been fluctuations in between or not. Being that I've been using kalk as topoff water long term as a sole supplement for alk and Ca, I figured it would be pretty stable since my evaporation seems fairly consistent.

08/21/2017, 06:37 AM	#1
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Acro finally decided to grow after 2 years In my mixed reef, I have a few SPS, couple of LPS, and zoas. I had bought a nice frag of an Acro, and it started to encrust on the rock slowly, then stopped encrusting at a point. The branches never grew, even though it had good PE. I've had the acro for at least 2 years and never saw any growth except the encrusting on the rock. Other coral has grown quite well, including a birdsnest which is right next to the acro and has more than quadrupled in size. Seemingly out of nowhere, I noticed the acro has started to grow a bit, one of the branches is longer, and seems to be starting another! I'm very excited to finally see some growth, but wish I could pinpoint what started the growth so I can make sure it continues. Recent changes to my tank: I've adjusted the lighting a bit as I moved some coral around. First darkened the tank, then worked my way back up to about where I was before over a few weeks. I was adding pH buffer due to chronic low pH, and accidentally built up my alk to 14dKh. I sopped dosing the buffer, but continued adding kalk for topoff water a few days after. I need to check alk to see where it is now. I also angles one of my powerheads differently, more towards the water surface near the acro, but not directly at it. Anyone have any input on what might have caused the sudden growth? Any experience with coral just not growing, but seemingly healthy otherwise?

08/22/2017, 08:20 AM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Usually "instability" isn't good.. But maybe it was a "kick in the pants" for that acro.. That lower PH wasn't really "bad" and many of the top dogs in this field run lower than recommend PH and do just fine but I have seen cases where people have claimed much better growth when their PH went up slightly.. __________________ Who me?

08/23/2017, 10:21 AM	#8
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Stability is more important than any specific number from my experience.. Seen quite a few people claim now that if they have very low nutrient systems that they couldn't run their alk that high without getting alk burn,etc... and were targeting much lower 7-8 ranges.. and had better results after they did lower it.. __________________ Who me?

08/22/2017, 07:31 AM	#5
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Well I'll just have to hope for more eclipses then. I jokingly thought I should turn down my lights for an hour to simulate the eclipse, since the fish didn't get to experience it. I have been dosing kalk in top off water for years, but only recently started (and stopped) adding the pH buffer. My Alk normally was 8-9dKh. I didn't get a chance to check my parameters yesterday. should be able to find time today. pH has historically been around 7.6-7.8 as read by a calibrated pH pen. After I added enough buffer over a few days to get it to 8.3, the alk was 14 so I stopped that addition, and topped off with normal RODI for a couple days before going back to kalk. I guess I'll try to keep things stable and hope growth continues.

08/23/2017, 05:47 AM	#7
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Checked my parameters last night: Alk-12dKh Ca-460ppm Mag-1380ppm pH-7.88 (an hour after lights out) I think I may purposely run my tank at 12dKh alk for a while and see if that helps growth. I know this is above normally recommended range, but I have a feeling that it may be contributing to my growth. Anyone see a problem running it that high? should I shoot for something different? regardless of the number, I'll keep it stable.

08/24/2017, 11:12 AM	#10
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	My pH was commonly only around 7.4 or so during the day before. I would keep my alk at 9, but that's about the highest I could get my pH. I had decent surface agitation, and tried opening windows in the house, but nothing made much of a difference. I'd heard mixed reviews on CO2 scrubbers, but hadn't tried one because of the ongoing cost associated with them. I have limited extra cash I can put into the tank as I bought a house about a year ago (man the time flies) and now I have a baby due any day. Whenever I'd test my Alk, I'd always get 9dKh, so I assumed it was stable. I don't know if I just happened to test when it was 9 every time when there could have been fluctuations in between or not. Being that I've been using kalk as topoff water long term as a sole supplement for alk and Ca, I figured it would be pretty stable since my evaporation seems fairly consistent.