Coral growth issues..

[reefwars]

At 0.25 for Po4 , that's part of your issue

[jordanc_17]

Also you are only getting RO water from the grocery store, not RO/DI water. I would invest in a RO/DI unit, they are cheap.

[AquaAddict]

Hi,

If you also have very little coraline algae, ie, rocks lock a little bit gray, your nitrates are too low. Corals (and coraline algae) do need a very little bit of nitrates to feed on.

Just be careful not to overdo it. Levels of 2 parts per million might a minimum to strive for but watch carefully.

AquaAddict

[incept]

Thanks for the response everyone. From what I gather the Phosphates need to come down and the nitrate come up slightly. Cool. I can do that. Now the next question, I am running a GFO reactor already with the phosphates at the level they are now. Perhaps the media is not working correctly. Any suggestions on what GFO media to try and use?? I think before I go to crazy that is the first thing to achieve. Once the phosphates come down we can drive the nitrates up slightly. To answer the coraline algea. I have next to none. It has never grown in the tank and the little bit I seeded never really did anything. Thanks for the replies, keep em coming!

[reefwars]

Unless your carbon dosing your not nitrogen deficient so don't worry about raising No3

As for gfo any phosphate removing media works , chances are yours is exhausted as it can only hold so much phosphate . The first batch is used in 48hrs if it's high Po4 then each batch afterwards will last longer as long as your inputs don't over weigh the exports

High phosphates inhibit growth in hard corals

A high alkalinity would actually get you better growth in hard corals coupled with a higher ph , but yours is a tad high leaves no wiggle room.

Lastly buy good test kits , your Po4 may not even be accurate if it's not verified

[reefwars]

Api is not good , buy some good test kits then you'll have a better plan . You can't do much on false numbers and Api is hit or miss on what test is worth trusting

I use a mix of elos , salifert and Hanna

[whatcaneyedo]

How about magnesium? I think IO salt is generally a little low so you likely are as well. Several years back when I started running GFO and boosted Mg to fight hair algae the coraline algae growth really took off in my tank and the general stoney coral growth increased as well.

Aquarium Chemistry: Magnesium In Reef Aquaria
By Randy Holmes-Farley, Ph.D.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry

[Aquattro]

Mag has never been a limiting factor for me using IO. I did start adding it with my new build, but can't say I see any difference.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by reefwars

At 0.25 for Po4 , that's part of your issue

Probably most of the issue. Temp is good, other parameters good. RO vs RO/DI is not a factor. NO3 reading 0ppm is likely not an issue, there will be some, just utilized immediately and not detectable. I never had a reading on NO3 and coral growth was crazy.

I'd aim to lower PO4 as a first action.