Razor SPS growth-how long?

[r1racer]

It's been about 5 months since my redo and only now is the coral growth noticeable. I have zoas that are splitting and my SPS are finally encrusting over their frag discs and onto the the rock.

Is this due normally to light acclimation or water conditions (parameters have been in check since day one)?

 

[kc350twin]

I think all tanks are different. I know my tank with the Sols took a long time to take off. When they did the growth exploded. It is probably why most people bail on them so quick and the fact that most people I think start too low with the intensities in my opinion.

 

[inf0r]

I've noticed that it takes new additions about 3-4 weeks to properly acclimate under my R420R 16K lamp.. Additions I added then are now showing different colouration and showing growth..

Will

 

[jda]

I am not a LED fan for SPS in way, shape or form, but there are too many variables to just look at the lights.

How is the coralline growth? In 5 months, everything should be covered in purple. If not, then look at parameters.

It also depends on the coral. What kind of specific SPS do you have? FWIW - in about 5 months, I have grown a 1" ORA Red Planet Frag into about a 4.5-5" colony in an established SPS tank with a calcium reactor and HQI lighting. I have a 6 month old blue tort in my mixed reef that now has about 40 branches that could be fragged. On the other hand, some of the slow growers, like Oregon Tort only went from about 1/2" to about 2" in the same timeframe.

 

[MrIcky]

How much of a redo are you talking about. Also, did you use life rock or base rock? My experience is that tanks with base rock take longer before the coral starts growing noticeably in new builds.

 

[Hentz]

I had the Maxspect Razor Nano over my 26 gallon reef and it took about a month for my SPS to encrust over my rock before they started going up. Though I took it down and put them all in my nuvo 24 which I no longer have. So now I've got a 45 gallon Marineland I wanna do a lagoon style with, SPS only really, and an wondering if I should get an MH or T5's or just use the maxspect razor nano

 

[r1racer]

Lights are at 90% and are on about 12 hours a day. To grow a 1" ora into a colony in that short a time compared to the slow growth I'm seeing leads me to believe it's the lighting. I keep a weekly log of my water parameters and they are all in check.

Calcium stays around 430-450, mag, alk stays in check with baking soda. I use Red Sea Coral Pro and RO/DI. Haven't checked phosphates in a while but I do run gfo and carbon about once a month for a week.

It was a complete overhaul (new sand, water, equip, etc.) with the exception of the live rock (10 years old but was cooked for a month in the dark). I have a little bit of coralline on the rocks and none on the glass.

Frogspawn-new heads sprouting
Torch-moderate growth
Rasta Zoas (split from 1 head to 6)
Pink tipped birdsnest-no growth
Favia-moderate growth
Acros-some are just now encrusting and others nothing