I don't have good growth?

[Bobby417919]

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]

No one???

 

[MrChico]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[kabal2]

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]

yes mike

 

[Bobby417919]

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]

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

 

[leeweber85]

what is your calcium and alkalinity levels?

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

what about phosphates?

 

[chocolateblnt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7180996#post7180996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leeweber85
what is your calcium and alkalinity levels?

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

what about phosphates?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7179675#post7179675 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> 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]

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

 

[chocolateblnt]

Here's a few readings on ...

Marine Water Parameters
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&siteid=6&acatid=309&aid=1079

Calcium Application
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&siteid=6&acatid=309&aid=1121

Supplements AkA Trace Elements
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&siteid=6&acatid=308&aid=362

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

 

[Bobby417919]

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]

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]

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]

Seachem Reef Buffer ... safely raises ph to 8.3

 

[aural]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7182814#post7182814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> 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]

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