Odd problem, corals still not growing =(

[Azex]

I've had this tank for several months now. Upgraded from a 5.5 gallon. Ever since I start putting corals in, things haven't been growing. They look good, color wise and such, but they haven't grown at all in size with exception to certain Zoos in there. Here are my water parameters:

29 Gallon Perfecto Tank: 250Watt Metal Halide 15k Hamilton bulb, I use RO Water
1/15/2006
PH 1 - 8.0(Using 2 different PH test kits)
PH 2 - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 0
Calcium - 420
Phosphate - 0
Alkalinity - 2.8 Meq/L
Salinity - 1.025

1/21/2006
PH 1 - 8.2
PH 2 - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 0
Calcium - 420
Phosphate - 0
Alkalinity - 2.63 Meq/L
Salinity - 1.025



I use a floating Hydrometer/Thermometer for measuring salinity. Is my salinity a problem? I read somewhere that hyrometers are calibrated at 60 degrees and for every 10 degrees your tank's temperature is above that 60, you add .001 to the reading you get. My tank's temperature is 80 degrees at all times.

My tank is not heavily stocked. All the frags I have are very small, and was put into my tank at different times over the course of 6 months.

1 Blue Tipped Acropora Frag - about 1.5"
1 Green Acropora Frag - about 1.5", 2 stalks
5 small stalks of Pom Pom White Xenia - each stalk about .5"
2 Stalks of the brownish Xenia - about .25"
Small Torch Coral - about 1.5" in diameter
20 Polyp Blue Zooes
40 Polyp Fire Ice Zoo
10 Polyp Green Zoo
7 Polyp Purple Zoo
2 Stalks Kenya Tree - bought 2 inches each
1 inch Diameter Ricordia
5 Astrea Snail
15 Nass. Snails(dun like sand, seems to prefer the tank glass >.>)

The Torch, Keyna Tree, and brownish Xenia were the first to go in and looked great after about 2 weeks. Then they just stopped.

heres a few pics to show ya:

there, I hope I can get some help findin out whats going on here thanks =))

 

[pfish]

Whats your lighting and filtration?

 

[pfish]

Oh sorry 250 mh lighting. Whats filtration? Your salininty is fine.

 

[fakename]

I think they mainly need time....Your tank looks good! Just one other thought: Do you move your corals often?? Moving them is one factor that can often slow growth....
Aaron

 

[Azex]

The only filtration atm is live rock and a little carbon in the HOB.

I have Penguin 330 for water turn over(no bio wheel installed) and some carbon in there.

Aquaclear 30 for turn over as well. Nothing in there.

Powersweep(very noisy)
Another power, its from hagen forgot the model number, turn over as well.

Once I get all the things I need, I will build my own Protein SKimmer, thats another week though.

I don't move my corals really. The brownish xenias been moved once, mainly because I thought they needed more light since they haven't grown in 6 months time o_o. I use to beg them to NOT grow in my 5.5 since they grew like weed, now I'm beggin them TO grow lol =(

Torch been moved several times. There actually splitting, I see two mouths and in the middle of the torch, theres like a dense concentation of the tentacles while the outside has less.

I understand time, but I thought 6 months was enough to grow quiet a bit of xenias =(

 

[bertoni]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

That article explains how to check your salinity device, which is always a good idea, IMO.

What are you feeding?

 

[pfish]

Do you have an algae problem?

 

[SuperNerd]

Bring up the alk a little bit.
Do you test for Magnesium?
If the xenia stop growing it may be a result of a lack of nutrients in the system. In general soft corals (and I think LPS?) like water with more nutrients than most sps....

FYI with time nassarius (and hermits) will end up depleting some of the beneficial animals in your sand bed--> "why don't I see any more of those funny little _____ in my tank anymore?"

 

[Azex]

Feeding wise, I feed flakes lol. To a Clownfish I forgot to mentions, its doing great! Everytime I'm starin at the tank up close, he comes up to my face. Obviously, the little guy is hungry. I get up to get the flakes and he swims right to the corner where I always drop them, its fun to watch

I occasionally dose some Liquid Calcium I bought in a reef pack. Came with Iodine too but never touched it. It also has Strontium and something else mixed with I have really touched either.

I NEVER had an algae problem oddly o_o. In my 5.5 I had massive Hair and bubble algae(ESPECIALLY hair) but in this tank no algae ever showed up. The only algae thatr shows up from time to time is if I accidently overfed and some stringy red algae show up on rocks, but they disappear after a few days and don't come back unless I overfeed again.

No, I don't have a test kit for Magnesium(omg another one to get >_<)
What are its affects? I'll read up on it later, thanks =))

Is my alkalinity to low? It dipped to 2.63 after a week, haven't changed the water yet since last week(a 6 gallon water change I did oye )

o and thank you for that link, will be readin it =))

 

[bertoni]

2.6 is okay. I wouldn't let it get much lower. You could try feeding some phytoplankton, like DT's. A coral food might help as well. This thread talks about feeding:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176530

That said, you might need to wait some, as well.

 

[SuperNerd]

NSW is around 2.5...but many people like to keep their alk in the mid 3's

Mg supposedly helps maintain ca and alk.
FWIW it is also involved in photosynthesis.

 

[Azex]

Ah phytoplankton. Since I've been in such a DIY mood, I might try culturing my own.

Coral food...I've thought of that too. Don't know how to feed a xenia with Eric's recipe lol I assume thats where the phyotoplankton comes in right?

Also, would be it stressful if I raised Alkalinity level quickly? like 1 Meq/L at once(thinking about the baking soda method) Or I should slowly raise it up?(not sure if alkalinity levels apply the same as salinity level in terms of correcting it)

thanks for you suggestions ppl =))

 

[bertoni]

You can raise alkalinity 0.5 meq/L in one shot, IME.

The Xenia subsist on dissolved nutrients, and can't be fed at all otherwise. Any of the foods should raise dissolved nutrients some, though.

 

[jap1]

I use DT's Phytoplankton and my corals are growing like weeds. Also, maybe you might try changing brands of salt and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Azex]

I use Tropic Marine. I used that in my 5.5 and corals were growin like weed. What other brands you suggest?

I got lots of suggestion of patience, maybe I should take it lol. Its just so wierd things in my 5.5 were much better. Coralline Algae grew much more in that tank, corals were growing at a normal rate it seems. I tore it down and later did this 29 but didn't do anything different, so it seems odd to me. Maybe because of 15k? My 5.5 used 10k/Acintic PC. No dosing.

I raised my alk by .7 meq/L
a little over the .5 suggested. Currently readings are 3.3 Meq/L and 440 PPM calcium after a 6 gallon water change, which was after the baking soda method. But corals seem a little better all of a sudden that or I'm be blinded by false hope >_<

Keyna Tree looked more plump though

 

[bertoni]

The 14k bulb probably produces less light than an equivalent 10k, but that's a lot of light for a 29g. You might just need to wait for the tank to stabilize.

 

[SuperNerd]

If you're worried about the growth from bulb choice check out Sanjay's research on lighting.
The best for growth is Iwasakis.

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/index.htm


There's another person who did some research on bulbs but I can't find the link...

 

[bertoni]

JBNY? I think his thread is still a sticky in one of the forums.

 

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6566812#post6566812 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
JBNY? I think his thread is still a sticky in one of the forums.

I think that's the one.