Corals just not growing.

[Foundry]

I've been doing some research over the past few days, testing and thinking. I can't seem to figure it out. I would appreciate suggestions. At this point the only thing I can think of is I'm running too low nutrients, at the same time this seems odd due to the Cyno and GHA issues I've seen recently. Perhaps I could pull the Matrix to lower the bio-load buffer.

Here's the low down, my corals just aren't growing at a desirable rate. The only thing really showing signs of growth is the xenia, but its very minor. At the end of the day, the mushroom thats been in there for nearly 1 year hasn't really grown nor split. In 4 months the Zoa's haven't shown signs of growth either. Everything is surviving...but not thriving.

My parameters are stable, weekly checks. I upgraded the lighting around October from 2x T10's (hood came with the tank) to a single 165W Viperspectra LED rig. The change in lighting seemed to prompt a Cyno and GHA issue. Cyno was dealt with and the GHA is being reigned in. (I would assume the GHA would point to a phos issue but testing doesn't seem to show that).

I do not dose but do 10% weekly water changes using RODI and Instant Reef, Reef Crystals.

Parameters as of Sunday:
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 460 ppm
Alk 9 dKh
Mag 1260 ppm
Phos 0 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm
Temp 26c 78f


Here are my spec's

Hardware:
-30 gallon tank
-Viparspectra 165w LED lighting (B 75% W 75%)
-2x HOB filters (mechanical, carbon, phospad, Matrix)
-2x Power heads (250gph & 425gph)
-Biocube air stone protein skimmer (I know, but it was a freebie and produces skim-mate)
-20lb live rock
-100% argonite sand bed 1.5in deep

Lighting cycle:
A few months ago the GHA issue was become a REAL problem so I started the anti-GHA cycle based on forum research. Blue Antic 8hr Whites for 6hr Seems to be working. Same reason Im using a Phospad.

Coral:
(all frags)
-Pulsing Xenia
-Zoa's (3 colours)
-Platty's (2 days/week feeding)
-Purple/Blue Mushrooms
-Green Trumpet Coral (3 heads) (nightly feeding)
-Hammer Coral (new addition)
-Sun Coral (daily feeding)
-Leather Finger Coral

Live Stock:
-Few Hermits
-YWM Goby
-Tiger Pistol Shrimp
-Emerald Crab
-Few Whelk Snails
-2 maroon clowns (RE overstocking - We're planning a move early 2018 into a bigger house and trying to prepare the corals etc to fill out a larger and nicer tank)

 

[Agostinone]

For decades I had mediocre results with my coral, they would survive but not thrive. I changed 3 things and got explosive growth and improved color--ATO, dosing, and D.C. power heads (intermittent, varying flow). Everything else is the same--salt mix, water source, lights, rock, sand, critters...

Hope this helps.

 

[Sk8r]

Many of the corals you have in a 30 gallon recirculating tank don't like each other and send out chemicals to inhibit competion: unfortunately they get it back their own faces due to recirculation.
1. run carbon.
2. bump mg to 1350...helps with stability of alkalinity ergo availability of calcium.
3. chaotic flow helps get food to the corals. You might try grinding up some jumbo krill which can blow about the tank and get to everybody.

 

[Foundry]

At the moment I'm using a 'dumb' ATO which drips RODI water in at a predictable rate that I've worked out against my daily evap loss. I have an ATO system in the works but I've been too busy to actually build the unit.

I am running carbon 24/7. Corals are placed so they aren't near any conflicting baddies and spaced to prevent sweeper tentacle contact.

Chaotic flow is an issue. The powerheads are setup against opposite walls. The right unit points up and slightly towards the back wall. The left unit points downwards and slightly to the front wall. This would create a circular recirculation pattern within the tank with flow interrupted by the HOB returns. I'll see about bumping the Mg.

 

[heathlindner25]

There is definitely a learning curve in this hobby.

 

[innerspark]

Sounds like maybe a no3 po4 imbalance. I had this happen to me once. Just because you can't test any PO4 in your system does not mean there is any. Try raising your no3.

 

[Ron Reefman]

How long has your tank been set up and how long have you had the corals?

I ask because your avatar says you joined RC in Nov or 2016. If that's when you set up the tank, it's barely had time to become mature. And remember, frags don't show growth the way colonies do. If a 1/2" frag grows 25% to 5/8" it doesn't look like much. But if a 4" diameter cap grows 25% it's now 5" in diameter and looks bigger. But in reality it isn't growing any faster.

 

[rickzter]

You need to dirty up your tank a bit. Raise those phosphates. Feed more. All other params seem ok. Sps take their time then take off. It's a question of patience. In my experience it has also been placement. Try moving them around or increasing flow.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

[TangingOut]

Back off on the lighting. Start at 50% blues and 20% whites. Slowly work your way back to 80% blues and 40% whites. 5% weekly increases. Don't know if it was an issue, but it seemed like a lot of light too soon. Especially the whites.

 

[Foundry]

The tank is a year old. We started it after upgrading our freshwater tank and thus free up a tank and hardware. Joined this forum in November yes but prowled the threads before hand and have a friend helping behind the scenes. He's very experienced reefer who until recently ran a 190gal reef tank. I try not to bug him to much....

Regarding the lighting I stepped up from 5% power from time of installation to where I am now. +5% every week or so. Prior research recommended this avoid shocking and bleaching corals. Perhaps the whites are too high from your 80% blue 40% white recommendation?

The mushrooms hand Xenia have been in since the beginning once everything was cycled. The sun coral not long after, got a nice cluster from my friend. I don't expect those to grow. Leather and zoa/platty colony is 6 months. Hammer is new.

I turned off the skimmer after reading your comments and will look into your other suggestions.

Thanks

 

[kapoofta]

I had a very similar problem to you where I had my tank for over a year and none of my corals grew at all. All of my parameters were great so I couldn't figure out what it was. It was suggested that I had very low nutrients in my tank and after feeding my fish a little more and adding some coral food to "make it dirtier" my corals started growing. In a months time my xenia and Kenyan tree coral grew twice in size and my duncan grew three new heads. Just my two cents.

 

[MiddletoM]

I also think its a low nutrient issue. I was running at 0ppm nitrates for ages then removed the chaeto from my fuge and the nitrates have increased and stabilised at 1ppm, everything is now looking way healthier.

 

[Foundry]

Hey everyone, here is a 3 month update!
*check original post for the low down.

After making some changes to my tank and maintenance strategy I've seen a marked increase in coral growth and over-all tank health (with one caveat).

I'm now seeing significant coral growth and will try and post some 'before/after' pictures. The zoa colonies are growing and encrusting properly, the pulsing xenia are looking amazing, platty colonies have nearly twice as many heads, the hammer cora had 1 head a month ago and now has 2 fully functional heads and a 3rd coming in, the leather looks fuller and very happy with MUCH more polyp extension. Also, my pod population exploded, this is likely linked to the additional food in the tank but they are every where during the day now. My pistol shrimp and goby are overjoyed.

What did I do?
-Turned off the skimmer for 1 month, then back on at a reduced rate (I was emptying the cup very 2 days, now its emptied bi-weekly)
-Was a bit more liberal with the morning feeding of pellets (night feeding of brine/mysis/R.O.E blend)
-Instead of 10% weekly water changes I now do a 15% biweekly water change. (para's still holding)
-Added pre-filters to the HOB intakes and wash out the pre-filter every few days. (I don't know IF this makes and difference but its something new so I'll include it here)

The one caveat is a previously unseen problem. Aiptasia, along with all the other corals being happier and growing after so too have the aiptasia. There wasn't any in the tank before, not that I could see anyway. However over the last month the population has exploded. I've been treating with AiptasiaX for the largest and easiest to get offenders but cannot get them all. The Sun Coral rock is getting over grown. We just bought a new house and plan to upgrade the tank size so there are a few challenges coming up.

 

[TokiHacker]

Hey everyone, here is a 3 month update!
*check original post for the low down.

After making some changes to my tank and maintenance strategy I've seen a marked increase in coral growth and over-all tank health (with one caveat).

I'm now seeing significant coral growth and will try and post some 'before/after' pictures. The zoa colonies are growing and encrusting properly, the pulsing xenia are looking amazing, platty colonies have nearly twice as many heads, the hammer cora had 1 head a month ago and now has 2 fully functional heads and a 3rd coming in, the leather looks fuller and very happy with MUCH more polyp extension. Also, my pod population exploded, this is likely linked to the additional food in the tank but they are every where during the day now. My pistol shrimp and goby are overjoyed.

What did I do?
-Turned off the skimmer for 1 month, then back on at a reduced rate (I was emptying the cup very 2 days, now its emptied bi-weekly)
-Was a bit more liberal with the morning feeding of pellets (night feeding of brine/mysis/R.O.E blend)
-Instead of 10% weekly water changes I now do a 15% biweekly water change. (para's still holding)
-Added pre-filters to the HOB intakes and wash out the pre-filter every few days. (I don't know IF this makes and difference but its something new so I'll include it here)

The one caveat is a previously unseen problem. Aiptasia, along with all the other corals being happier and growing after so too have the aiptasia. There wasn't any in the tank before, not that I could see anyway. However over the last month the population has exploded. I've been treating with AiptasiaX for the largest and easiest to get offenders but cannot get them all. The Sun Coral rock is getting over grown. We just bought a new house and plan to upgrade the tank size so there are a few challenges coming up.

Very good to hear your new found solutions!!! As for the aiptasia, aiptasia x works well or make a kalkwasser paste and inject it into them with a syringe.

Other choices are peppermint shrimp get a few and throw them in. They lovvvvveeee aiptasia (or atleast everyone I have ever had does)

 

[Foundry]

Thanks, we just bought a house and I'm contemplating a larger tank for the move.

Currently we have a 30 gallon tank with a cleaner shrimp and pistol shrimp, I wonder if adding a peppermint shrimp will cause issues. Or should I wait until the tank expansion.

I'd likely wait until the move anyway (1 month) as to not add one more critter to stress out.

 

[bcb577]

I had the same exact issue and the bottom line was I was keeping my tank too " clean" ,corals need nutrients to grow/thrive.I took out my protein skimmer and switching a few days every coral in my tank started showing improvements.