Frustrated!! Please Explain.

[doch]

OK... I have 2 homes... one for living, and one for working. In each home I have a tank... 1 55 gal well cared for, properly maintained well equipped tank, and one 12 gal poorly maintaned, ill equipped tank. The 55 has 6 bulbs of T5ho, a Remora Skimmer, GFO/Carbon Reactor, lots of flow, proper dosing (3 part as well as a bunch of KZ supplements, and pods and rotifers) UV sterilizer etc. The 12 gal has a 150W pendant, and as of today has a reactor with N/P X pellets, has never been skimmed or dosed. The 55 has a 10-20% water change about 3 of every four weekends, and the filter floss gets changed every 2-3 weeks. The 12 has NEVER had a water change in the 6 months it's been running, and I've never changed/washed the sponge in the filter chamber. I test the 55 on a regular basis for Alk (~7) Ca (~380-400) Mg (1250-1400) pH (8.2) Phos (<.1 on a Hanna) Nitrates show up clear on the test kit, Amonia and Nitrites are undetectable. I've never tested or adjusted anything on the 12 gal. All that I ever do to the 12 is add a little water once a week, sometimes with prime, sometimes without.

Here's the thing: My 12 has WAY better growth and polyp extension. (Not as good colours though).

Any ideas?

Oh, and the 55 is in Edmonton, and the 12 is in Fort Mac... I would assume the Edmonton water to be cleaner???