Supplements to boost coral growth

[matt29]

A week ago I bought some 'clearance coral' from my LFS (5 pieces for $20) as I have had a tank running for 3 months and wanted to start getting some corals in and thought I'd try adding some cheaper specimens first before looking at those that are harder to keep.

They are a small mixture of Lobophyllia, Favia and Pectinia.

I have yet to start adding any additional supplements and would like to know any suggestions of how to encourage growth and any particular care they need to give them a boost and what supplements are best to add.

Thanks in advance.

 

[thegrun]

IMHO the most important thing is to get your salinity, calcium, alkalinity and magnesium where you want them and then keep them stable. If your water chemistry is all over the map you will not get good coral growth. Outside of coral food, be very cautious about adding any supplement you cannot test for.

 

[matt29]

Cheers for that. I just did a water change yesterday and haven't yet bought test kits for calcium, alkalinity and magnesium but that will be the first thing I do so I can get a starting point.

 

[Sk8r]

An ATO kit and a reservoir laced with kalk are a good move. Pretty trouble free once you get it balanced at 8.3 alk, 420 calcium, 3000 or so magnesium under proper lighting. They will take a little particulate, but light and water chemistry do most.

 

[thegrun]

1350 ppm would be a better magnesium level, I suspect Sk8r mistyped!

 

[heathlindner25]

Cheers for that. I just did a water change yesterday and haven't yet bought test kits for calcium, alkalinity and magnesium but that will be the first thing I do so I can get a starting point.

Test kit should come before coral... This hobby is actually about keeping water.

 

[Sk8r]

1350 is good. 1300 is ok. 1200 is already falling. Stay below 1500, imho.