My SPS wont grow

D

Daddyrawg

Member
can you guys spot my issue as to why my SPS (ACROPORAS) look ok but just wont grow?

90 gallon with 20 gal sump

2 165w CBB's viparspectras for lights
Protien skimmer and L2 algae turf scrubber by Turboaquatics

Tank running for 1.5 years pretty stable all around
Parameters
Nitrates = 2
phoshphates = .04
magnesium = 1305
calcium = 420
dkh = 7.3
salinity 1.025
Temp 79

5% wkly water changes with red sea blue bucket
I don't dose. but have the supplies to start dosing.

I do use reef roids and marine snow once in a while
Thx
 
Give us a timeframe..
Been growing SPS for ? months now
Have had corals that haven't shown growth in ? months..

Often times SPS growth is slow.. Sometimes taking pictures and comparing after a few months is the only way..

If I had to get "picky" your alk is lower than I would suggest if SPS growth is your target.. You could be 8.5-9 (or more) with your nutrient levels easily.. Same for calcium..

And of course lighting.. Got a PAR meter? Some report great results with CBB lights.. others not so much.. Thought about T5 supplement?
 
mcgyvr said:
Give us a timeframe..
Been growing SPS for ? months now
Have had corals that haven't shown growth in ? months..

Often times SPS growth is slow.. Sometimes taking pictures and comparing after a few months is the only way..

If I had to get "picky" your alk is lower than I would suggest if SPS growth is your target.. You could be 8.5-9 (or more) with your nutrient levels easily.. Same for calcium..

And of course lighting.. Got a PAR meter? Some report great results with CBB lights.. others not so much.. Thought about T5 supplement?
Click to expand...

Ive had the tank for over 1.5 yrs and introduced my acros about 5 months ago. The lost color at one point and browned out but I think they are slowly coming back. don;t have a par meter, who does? havent thought about T5 supplements
 
mcgyvr said:
Give us a timeframe..
Been growing SPS for ? months now
Have had corals that haven't shown growth in ? months..

Often times SPS growth is slow.. Sometimes taking pictures and comparing after a few months is the only way..

If I had to get "picky" your alk is lower than I would suggest if SPS growth is your target.. You could be 8.5-9 (or more) with your nutrient levels easily.. Same for calcium..

And of course lighting.. Got a PAR meter? Some report great results with CBB lights.. others not so much.. Thought about T5 supplement?
Click to expand...

so add say a couple T5 lights in addition to the lights I currently run?
 
Daddyrawg said:
can you guys spot my issue as to why my SPS (ACROPORAS) look ok but just wont grow?

90 gallon with 20 gal sump

2 165w CBB's viparspectras for lights
Protien skimmer and L2 algae turf scrubber by Turboaquatics

Tank running for 1.5 years pretty stable all around
Parameters
Nitrates = 2
phoshphates = .04
magnesium = 1305
calcium = 420
dkh = 7.3
salinity 1.025
Temp 79

5% wkly water changes with red sea blue bucket
I don't dose. but have the supplies to start dosing.

I do use reef roids and marine snow once in a while
Thx
Click to expand...



I don't know much about the lights you're using but your alkalinity and calcium look a little low. I'd (slowly) raise the dkh and calcium - maybe try dosing. That being said acros are terrible slow growers so maybe you just don't see it yet.

One final note - I've never owned acros or similar to take my advice with a grain of salt, but that's what I'd say based on the information I've gathered by experienced reefers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Alk is low, I run a 65g with two Visparspectra 165w.
Your PH is likely a bit on the low side as well.

Not the best lighting for Acros, but easily grow all else.
T5's seem to produce better growth and colour.

I would increase Alk to 8.5 over a few days,
 
Uncle99 said:
Alk is low, I run a 65g with two Visparspectra 165w.

Your PH is likely a bit on the low side as well.



Not the best lighting for Acros, but easily grow all else.

T5's seem to produce better growth and colour.



I would increase Alk to 8.5 over a few days,
Click to expand...
Ok, you think I should add a couple T5s? I would need to get a fixture.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
So the alk on Red Sea is 8.2-8.5 yet your alk is only 7.3 - I would start to dose some alk to bring you tank level to your salt level. Dose calcium also. Bring nitrates up a bit maybe with some ME polyp extender (will add aminos). How is your flow?
Cheers! Mark
 
Daddi0 said:
So the alk on Red Sea is 8.2-8.5 yet your alk is only 7.3 - I would start to dose some alk to bring you tank level to your salt level. Dose calcium also. Bring nitrates up a bit maybe with some ME polyp extender (will add aminos). How is your flow?
Cheers! Mark
Click to expand...
Red sea is 7.7 not 8.2 to 8.5... I have 2 jebao wavemakers...I think getting nitrates up is a good idea tho.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
I am thinking of adding (2) ATI T5's along with my 2 Vipars 165w. tank is 4' long.
what is a good length for the T5's? I was thinking 1 coral plus and 1 blue plus.
 
Daddyrawg said:
I am thinking of adding (2) ATI T5's along with my 2 Vipars 165w. tank is 4' long.
what is a good length for the T5's? I was thinking 1 coral plus and 1 blue plus.
Click to expand...

As long as will permit.
Yup, I think that's a great idea, the 1+1 will diffuse your light, that's mostly the problem with individual LED lights like VIsparspectra, this configuration does not blend the light well. In addition, the intensity and colour mix is preset.
 
Uncle99 said:
As long as will permit.

Yup, I think that's a great idea, the 1+1 will diffuse your light, that's mostly the problem with individual LED lights like VIsparspectra, this configuration does not blend the light well. In addition, the intensity and colour mix is preset.
Click to expand...
Thx, what does diffuse my lights mean?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Uncle99 said:
As long as will permit.
Yup, I think that's a great idea, the 1+1 will diffuse your light, that's mostly the problem with individual LED lights like VIsparspectra, this configuration does not blend the light well. In addition, the intensity and colour mix is preset.
Click to expand...

ok I am thinking 3' lights not 4'.. I think 3' is plenty long enough.
 
I use T5HOs & love them for coral growth over LED any day, don't short yourself get the 4" fixtures & bulbs or else the tanks ends will suffer. They spread the light wonderfully but its reflectors spread the light in width for no shadowing, not length. If you go a foot short that will give shadows at the tanks ends.
 
Oldreeferman said:
I use T5HOs & love them for coral growth over LED any day, don't short yourself get the 4" fixtures & bulbs or else the tanks ends will suffer. They spread the light wonderfully but its reflectors spread the light in width for no shadowing, not length. If you go a foot short that will give shadows at the tanks ends.
Click to expand...
Thank you

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
I've been experiencing the same thing---slow growth

I've been experiencing the same thing---slow growth

Hi, i've just returned to the reefing hobby and completely new to SPS corals. My parameters:
1.026 sal
450 calc
1370 mag
9.2 ALK
hydra 26 for a 20g shallow nuvo

My problem might be time---i've only been running this tank 2.5 months (but bought tank established so livestock started right away)---

I have noticed that keeping a close eye on them, corals will let you know if something else in the tank is affecting them. I recently treated my tank for red cyno bloom--and the algae bloom seemed to be affecting the oxygen intake for the corals (seeming to choke out the small polyps)---treated the tank, SPSs are showing stronger colors and the small polyps in some pieces are coming back out. I just figure it will take more time to see results. I acquired some larger SPSs from a 3 year old tank.
 
Your prob is time.
Each coral must settle.
Some take months
Parameters must stay stable
 
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