I need some growth and color!

[erick_diver]

Hi guys,

I used vodka dosing for the last 2 months and my N and P are finally zero, but i can't get a decent growth nor color in my SPS.

My params are:
ph: 8.2
alk : 7
calcium : 520
mg : 1300
nitrate: 0
phosphate: 0
orp : 350
For lighting i've 2 250w 14k blv and 1 T5 true actinic.

My setup is a 150gal tank with only sps corals, and for the fish list i have 3 tangs, 2 clowns and 1 flamehawk.

Now that my N and P are zero i started dosing reefbooster from prodibio, but any kind of improvement. I also think that i have a small problem balancing alk and Ca.

Right now i'm dosing kalk and once a week reefbooster.

What kind of advice or product can anyone suggest to get a better growth and color?! I'm not satisfied with reefbooster, so any amino or so? If i introduce zeolith right now with low nutrients, could it be a problem?

Thanks for any kind of help and advice!

 

[aquaph8]

Just my opinion, but I would bring your alk up to 8 or 9 and let your calcium balance out to 400-420 and just keep everything stable. How is your PE? I have never used kalk or Zeo, so I cant comment on those.

 

[erick_diver]

Thanks for the advice i'll try to use backing soda to raise the alk. But sorry for the dumb question but what is PE? Sometime u guys use abbreviations that i don't know what it is.

Thanks

 

[aquaph8]

completely understand, it took me a while to learn them all too. PE=polyp extension

 

[erick_diver]

Well about PE, some frags as millepora, and tenius are with polyps very extended, and others like valida and montiporas, for me just look normal. I'll post some pictures of the reef so you and anybody else can see what i'm talking.

Thanks!

 

[elijaher]

Do you turn off your skimmer wend using reefbooster?

 

[erick_diver]

Yeap, I turn off the skimmer, UV and Ozone for 12hrs.

 

[n8rad]

color=m80 ballasts + radiums (or other m80 rated bulbs)

 

[erick_diver]

what kind of radium do you suggest? 20k? I always heard that 14k was the balance between growth and color.

 

[n8rad]

IMO dont even try unless you have an HQI or m80 ballast. FYI radiums only come in 20k...I really like the phoenix 14k DE bulb as well. You will get alot of people that say they suck because they are too yellow but thats because all the people are firing them on M58 ballasts which they are not intended to run on. Get yourself some genuine M80 ballasts and all will be well. The radium and phoenix look very similar when fired to spec. Also study the lighting of some of your favorite looking tanks as far as color and i have found that 8x out of 10 they are always on radium being driven by an HQI or M80 ballast.
I feel am right on the money with these claims because with all my "nice equipment" like my skimmer and such my tank was very healthy with really good growth. 2 months ago i added radiums on m80 ballast and my colors literally changed in 1.5 weeks. I had a brownish/greenish birdsnest that was growing really well on my old electronic m58 ballasts, and now 2 months later the thing is bright pink with new heads every week. Dont take my word for it though do the research like I did and look at "radium tanks" the proof is in the pudding.