odd situation with Birdsnest

[sweeper7]

my Birdsnest grew maybe .25"s in about 6 months, once I got a massive algae issue which was likely started by high Phosphates my birdsnest grew nearly 3x its original size (until my revive dip killed it). Is this a coincidence or did the high phosphates actually help it grow because I read corals do need some SPS to grow so if a massive spike in phosphates helped it grow could it mean I was lacking other things?

My calcium has always been around 430-460 and Alk from 7-12.

 

[tdb320reef]

In order to have "massive phosphates" you somehow increased your nutrient input. This nutrient input is what the coral took in and its output is growth. I found that a BN likes clean water with high light med flow and high input and output. Once established you cannot kill it and it becomes the green star polyp of SPS. I stack corals on top of mine and nothing will kill it or stop it from growing.

 

[sweeper7]

I had high phosphates because I was feeding my fish 2x a day to a total of 5 fishes. I have stopped that and put in a GFO reactor to remove the phosphates. During the tanks low phosphates months it NEVER grew.

What is your advice or tip to help it grow during this phase of low phosphates?

 

[franklypre]

I think most people get lost in the idea of low nutrient tanks, the idea IMO is to have low levels of N&P and enough nutrients to feed the coral. It's a balance rather than a process of elimination.

 

[purge43]

For one thing, an alk swing from 7 - 12 isn't exactly stable.