SPS Growth Puzzle

[PoonTang]

Brad
Interestingly enough I have been reading alot about coral growth etc lately due to my own coral issues. Growth is directly related to food and not light. Light will keep them alive but they wont grow much. Food is where they get all of their extra energy from that allows them to grow. The most important food item seems to be zooplankton and without a sandbed you would have much less of it in your tank. Without a sandbed tho you should be able to feed the hell out of your tank without running into nutrient issues.
I dont know what to suggest for food for you, I havnt got that far yet

[Nebthet]

I would suggest to raise you calcium (if your Mag remains 1400 do that, but perhaps suppliment a little once a week to help. Tests can be off).
Also use something like CoralVite and Coral Accel once to twice a week about two to three hours after lights out or first thing in the morning when polyps extension on your sps should be at it full extent.

When I started doing this with my SPS (and I use tapwater in my tank) I finally saw growth in my frags that had no growth for a year, not even encrusting. Now all my sps grow nicely.

[Aquattro]

While the food thing makes sense, somewhat, I've never fed and had up to 3 inches growth per month for years in my old tank (bare bottom). But, I'll try that and see what happens.
Keep it coming

[chris88]

sometimes corals will eat bacteria or fish waster or even things we can't see in the water column. Problem is we skim the **** out of tanks taking most of this away. Thats why things like coral frenzy help so much. +1 on the feeding all way but make sure you spot feed and dont over do it.

[Jason McK]

I know you really like the flow have you trying dialing down your flow at all? Also have you ever tried clipping a tip of a piece. I've seen really fast growth from areas that I have fraged. To the point that the fragged branch out grew a non-fraged branch

J

[marie]

What you really need are some Powell River grade "A" red bugs



.....I have lots if you want some

[Aquattro]

Jason, yes, I've taken small tips off of colonies and mounted them, nothing at all. I haven't dialed back the flow, but it's not crazy like I used to use, just 2 smaller streams (6060) and about 500gph from return line, maybe.
I might try that too though, and maybe then I could add sand -lol

Marie, thanks, had my own, had to treat a couple of months ago.

[shrimpchips]

How many fish? There have been a lot of people remarking that after getting more fish, their SPS growth took off. Maybe the food aimed at the coral isn't actually doing anything, but food from fish waste will?

[Canadian]

Hey, have you considered raising your Ca? I heard that might do it

I had similar problems last year Brad and did end up swapping out most of the LR as you've alluded to. I noticed a burst of growth but then it dwindled down again. I later dropped my flow rate and found that lead to a burst of growth but wasn't sustained either. I've since moved and am dealing with typical "new tank" type symptoms including browning out and slowed growth.

Have you considered changing to LED lighting? I think that's what the cool kids are using these days. Sounds trendy and trendy is always good

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by PoonTang

Brad
Interestingly enough I have been reading alot about coral growth etc lately due to my own coral issues. Growth is directly related to food and not light. Light will keep them alive but they wont grow much. Food is where they get all of their extra energy from that allows them to grow. The most important food item seems to be zooplankton and without a sandbed you would have much less of it in your tank. Without a sandbed tho you should be able to feed the hell out of your tank without running into nutrient issues.

Now that just don't ,make sence seeing that corals have little algae that live inside them and convert light energy into food for the coral. the only food that went into my tank for 7 years was fish food and it was a very heavily skimmed, bare bottom tank. so basicly a very low nutrent high light envioirment. I think all these "coral additives" are just a get rich quick scam myself, but hey its your money.

Ok, so Ca is fine, not low, for some reason people think you need over 400 Ca in this hobby which isn't true. once you get over 420 you actualy start slowing down coral growth.

Brad, borrow a Mg test kit off some one and test your damn Mg. also what are you Nitrates/nitrites and phosphates. the later two will stop groth in a heart beat if they have a little to much

Steve