I don't have good growth?

Bobby417919 · 04/14/2006, 12:04 PM

I have two 29 gallons, one is the display and the other is the sump. My coral are not growing like I had hoped. What can I do to make them grow?

Lighting is a 250 watt SE MH, the bulb is a XM 15,000k, also I do a 4 gallon water change every Sunday. I feed my Firefish and corals on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I feed the coral DTs.

Every thing is living and not dying, it is just not growing

Thanks Robert

Bobby417919 · 04/14/2006, 05:17 PM

No one???

MrChico · 04/14/2006, 05:26 PM

How long has it been up?

Sometimes it's like the old saying "A watched pot never boils" I'll bet after 6 mon. to 1 yr. you'll look back and say I've had pretty good growth.

As long as all your parameter are stable.

HartfordWhalers · 04/14/2006, 05:31 PM

You could try adding calcium to your tank. I did that and my star polyps grew like crazy, and my xenia is starting to grow everywhere

Bobby417919 · 04/14/2006, 05:36 PM

It has been up for about 4 months know. I do and calcium but some time i for get too. Maybe MrChico is right.

mr pink floyd · 04/14/2006, 05:36 PM

calcium will only help hard corasl grow, might want to try adding iodine and strontium, youve been dogin that too right andrew?

kabal2 · 04/14/2006, 06:49 PM

iodine is not good for hard corals, what is your water parameters??, how old is your tank?? if is under 1 year, just sit and relax, things have to settle down and get a grip of the quality of life you give them, like the guys said, after 1 year you will come here telling us how nice grow and color your corals have
just my 2c

HartfordWhalers · 04/14/2006, 06:51 PM

yes mike

Bobby417919 · 04/14/2006, 07:49 PM

Cool, just didn't know if it was the lighing (maybe to much) or something else. But hopefully after a year or so it will be that way.

aural · 04/14/2006, 07:54 PM

well you never really told us what you had in your tank that wasnt growing. what corals do you have in your tank?

leeweber85 · 04/15/2006, 01:53 AM

what is your calcium and alkalinity levels?

Most likely they are both low which could attribute to the problem.

what about phosphates?

chocolateblnt · 04/15/2006, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by leeweber85
what is your calcium and alkalinity levels?

Most likely they are both low which could attribute to the problem.

what about phosphates?

Quote:

Originally posted by aural
well you never really told us what you had in your tank that wasnt growing. what corals do you have in your tank?

Ditto ...

Bobby417919 · 04/15/2006, 01:43 PM

I sure didn't.....LOL. 3 different Hammer, Shrooms, Zoos and a Maze Brain.

chocolateblnt · 04/15/2006, 01:58 PM

Here's a few readings on ...

Marine Water Parameters
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...d=309&aid=1079

Calcium Application
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...d=309&aid=1121

Supplements AkA Trace Elements
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=308&aid=362

You Must Read These then Test your Water before trying to understand coral growth ... Good Luck!

Bobby417919 · 04/15/2006, 10:00 PM

Ok I tested the water and the Calcium is 300ppm, needs to come up a little. Alkalinity is about 15 dKH, need to come down a little. pH is 8.1, thats on point. I don't have a Strontium, Iodine, or a Magnesium test kit.

I am doing a water change tomorrow. Then I will test again to see if the Alkalinity comes down some.

chocolateblnt · 04/16/2006, 01:56 AM

Nice! You tested your wa wa! Good for you ... calcium definitely needs to go up and Alk down like you said ... and actually in a reef pH is ideal at 8.5 so bring it up a bit too ... just three tests left Strontium, Iodide, and Iodine (listed: important -> less important)... the other's don't have much to do with coral growth.

Bobby417919 · 04/16/2006, 10:11 AM

How can I bring my pH up with out using chemicals, I do have a Alk and pH booster but it will bring both up. I just need the pH to go up.

chocolateblnt · 04/16/2006, 12:42 PM

Seachem Reef Buffer ... safely raises ph to 8.3

aural · 04/16/2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bobby417919
I sure didn't.....LOL. 3 different Hammer, Shrooms, Zoos and a Maze Brain.

Your hammers will grow a bit slow... but one day you will wake up and you will notice that they have doubled in size. Shrooms (not rics) and the zoos should grow pretty quickly. Maze Brains can take a loooooooooooooooooooooong time for you to see size changes.

sounds to me like you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing - just get your CA up a little bit, though 300 isnt dangerously low by any means.

Patience is the thing needed most with reefing and unfortunately its the one thing you cant throw money at to fix. I know because i am EXTREMELY impatient! Keep with it and your corals will end up surprising the hell out of you!

Bobby417919 · 04/17/2006, 10:58 AM

Which test kit would someone recommend getting for the Strontium, Iodide, and Iodine.

04/14/2006, 12:04 PM	#1
Bobby417919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 28025 Posts: 261	I don't have good growth? I have two 29 gallons, one is the display and the other is the sump. My coral are not growing like I had hoped. What can I do to make them grow? Lighting is a 250 watt SE MH, the bulb is a XM 15,000k, also I do a 4 gallon water change every Sunday. I feed my Firefish and corals on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I feed the coral DTs. Every thing is living and not dying, it is just not growing Thanks Robert __________________ Started December 1, 2005 29 Gallon Display 29 Gallon Sump 250SE MH Mag 7 Sump Return CSS 125 Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Display/29 Gallon Sump

04/14/2006, 05:17 PM	#2
Bobby417919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 28025 Posts: 261	No one??? __________________ Started December 1, 2005 29 Gallon Display 29 Gallon Sump 250SE MH Mag 7 Sump Return CSS 125 Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Display/29 Gallon Sump

04/14/2006, 05:26 PM	#3
MrChico Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 273	How long has it been up? Sometimes it's like the old saying "A watched pot never boils" I'll bet after 6 mon. to 1 yr. you'll look back and say I've had pretty good growth. As long as all your parameter are stable. __________________ The solution to pollution is dilution Current Tank Info: 120 w/ a 55 fuge, 220 CSS, (2) 250w MH

04/14/2006, 05:31 PM	#4
HartfordWhalers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cutler Bay Posts: 463	You could try adding calcium to your tank. I did that and my star polyps grew like crazy, and my xenia is starting to grow everywhere __________________ Truffle Shuffle Current Tank Info: 60g reef w/20 sump, 5g sexy shrimp reef

04/14/2006, 05:36 PM	#5
Bobby417919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 28025 Posts: 261	It has been up for about 4 months know. I do and calcium but some time i for get too. Maybe MrChico is right. __________________ Started December 1, 2005 29 Gallon Display 29 Gallon Sump 250SE MH Mag 7 Sump Return CSS 125 Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Display/29 Gallon Sump

04/14/2006, 05:36 PM	#6
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	calcium will only help hard corasl grow, might want to try adding iodine and strontium, youve been dogin that too right andrew?

04/14/2006, 06:49 PM	#7
kabal2 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North JERSEY 07438 Posts: 1,103	iodine is not good for hard corals, what is your water parameters??, how old is your tank?? if is under 1 year, just sit and relax, things have to settle down and get a grip of the quality of life you give them, like the guys said, after 1 year you will come here telling us how nice grow and color your corals have just my 2c __________________ Within the beauty of woman.... .... lies the face of God

04/14/2006, 06:51 PM	#8
HartfordWhalers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cutler Bay Posts: 463	yes mike __________________ Truffle Shuffle Current Tank Info: 60g reef w/20 sump, 5g sexy shrimp reef

04/14/2006, 07:49 PM	#9
Bobby417919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 28025 Posts: 261	Cool, just didn't know if it was the lighing (maybe to much) or something else. But hopefully after a year or so it will be that way. __________________ Started December 1, 2005 29 Gallon Display 29 Gallon Sump 250SE MH Mag 7 Sump Return CSS 125 Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Display/29 Gallon Sump

04/14/2006, 07:54 PM	#10
aural Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,214	well you never really told us what you had in your tank that wasnt growing. what corals do you have in your tank? __________________ (¯`•._(¯`•._(-aural-)_.•´¯)_.•´¯) Current Tank Info: 20g Reef - 12g Nano-Cube - Another possible Nano in the works

04/15/2006, 01:53 AM	#11
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	what is your calcium and alkalinity levels? Most likely they are both low which could attribute to the problem. what about phosphates? __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef

04/15/2006, 01:43 PM	#13
Bobby417919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 28025 Posts: 261	I sure didn't.....LOL. 3 different Hammer, Shrooms, Zoos and a Maze Brain. __________________ Started December 1, 2005 29 Gallon Display 29 Gallon Sump 250SE MH Mag 7 Sump Return CSS 125 Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Display/29 Gallon Sump

04/15/2006, 01:58 PM	#14
chocolateblnt Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunnyvale, Nor*CAL Posts: 1,736	Here's a few readings on ... Marine Water Parameters http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...d=309&aid=1079 Calcium Application http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...d=309&aid=1121 Supplements AkA Trace Elements http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=308&aid=362 You Must Read These then Test your Water before trying to understand coral growth ... Good Luck!

04/15/2006, 10:00 PM	#15
Bobby417919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 28025 Posts: 261	Ok I tested the water and the Calcium is 300ppm, needs to come up a little. Alkalinity is about 15 dKH, need to come down a little. pH is 8.1, thats on point. I don't have a Strontium, Iodine, or a Magnesium test kit. I am doing a water change tomorrow. Then I will test again to see if the Alkalinity comes down some. __________________ Started December 1, 2005 29 Gallon Display 29 Gallon Sump 250SE MH Mag 7 Sump Return CSS 125 Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Display/29 Gallon Sump

04/16/2006, 01:56 AM	#16
chocolateblnt Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunnyvale, Nor*CAL Posts: 1,736	Nice! You tested your wa wa! Good for you ... calcium definitely needs to go up and Alk down like you said ... and actually in a reef pH is ideal at 8.5 so bring it up a bit too ... just three tests left Strontium, Iodide, and Iodine (listed: important -> less important)... the other's don't have much to do with coral growth.

04/16/2006, 10:11 AM	#17
Bobby417919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 28025 Posts: 261	How can I bring my pH up with out using chemicals, I do have a Alk and pH booster but it will bring both up. I just need the pH to go up. __________________ Started December 1, 2005 29 Gallon Display 29 Gallon Sump 250SE MH Mag 7 Sump Return CSS 125 Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Display/29 Gallon Sump

04/16/2006, 12:42 PM	#18
chocolateblnt Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunnyvale, Nor*CAL Posts: 1,736	Seachem Reef Buffer ... safely raises ph to 8.3

04/17/2006, 10:58 AM	#20
Bobby417919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 28025 Posts: 261	Which test kit would someone recommend getting for the Strontium, Iodide, and Iodine. __________________ Started December 1, 2005 29 Gallon Display 29 Gallon Sump 250SE MH Mag 7 Sump Return CSS 125 Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Display/29 Gallon Sump