Dosing for coral growth

[Coleus]

I am pretty sure that all my corals are growing very slowly comparing to other reefer that i know

Here is my tank params ( very stable for last 6 months)

Mg 1350
Calc 420
Alk 8

Nitrate: 0 (test with API)
PH: 7.7 to 8.1

I have 3x250w MH and 4x39W T5. I run bio pellets and carbon reactors. Using two part dosing. I feed my fishes 4 time per day and my coral on M-W-F with BRS Reef Chili Coral Food and Brightwell Aquatics Zooplanktos

But for some reason which i can't explain, my corals are not growing at all, the only things that actually grow in my tank are fishes and anemones. I have both lps and sps but none of them seem to grow


So i am thinking of dosing zeovit coral snow + amino acid + zeovit food, will this do the job?

Thanks

[Reef-Geek]

what is the temperature and color temperature?

[Coleus]

Originally Posted by shingo43

what is the temperature and color temperature?

Tank Temp is 78-80

14000K ushio for MH

4x super blue ATI T5

[mattdean]

If you want them to grow, you have to feed them. I feed my corals Reef Roids, cyclopeeze and another coral food, I can't remember the name. It's red or orange, plus Phytoplankton. Once a week for each on a different day. My corals grow like weeds!

Just try to keep it simple. The more products or chemicals you use, the more you need to offset and balance, the more chance of something going wrong.

I feed my fish heavily, they poop alot, I have excellent nutrient export (BK 200 skimmer, bio pellets [ half dosage], GFO, GAC, etc.) fish are happy, corals are happy...I"M happy!

[Magma]

have you tried Acan Plus from Red Coral? its good for LPS and softies they seem to eat it up really well maybe look into that?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by mattdean

If you want them to grow, you have to feed them. I feed my corals Reef Roids, cyclopeeze and another coral food, I can't remember the name. It's red or orange, plus Phytoplankton. Once a week for each on a different day. My corals grow like weeds!

I've never fed my corals and I had so much growth I couldn't keep up on fragging. So this is a matter of opinion really.

My last tank, a 90g, had acros that didn't grow at all in 2 years. After moving to the new tank, they've grown more in three weeks than the previous 2 years. no feeding, other than the food added for the fish. All measureable parameters are identical between the two tanks, so in my case, I think it had something to do with the hardware. Maybe electrical current, copper in the silicone, etc.
But for me, feeding corals has never been required for great growth.

[daniella3d]

I read in the coral magasine (anorexic reef article) that an aquarium that is less than a year does not have enough zooplankton to give a good sps growth and that after an aquarium as matured and is one year or older than the established population of microscopic fauna will help them grow much faster. I too have slow growth in my 9 months old aquarium so feeding help but a mature tank does best with natural plankton.

Reefroid, coral frenzy and zeovit amino acid can help with their growht speed as well.

Also try running carbon for a while as this might be due to coral releasing toxine in the water and preventing other coral to grow. Maybe do a copper test to see? and test for stray current, you never know. Mine as starting to grow but growing sps is much dependant on each coral and some specie grow faster than others. Most of the lps must be fed, especialy like duncan, alveopora etc... I had my ricordea receiding and I had no idea why until I accidently dropped food on one and it ate it all. It just took so long that I had never realised that ricordeas eat as well. I need to shut off my pumps for 30 minutes and let them eat. Now they are growing big again.

[phi delt reefer]

whats your flow like? You can feed until the cows come home but if its not suspended in the water column then its pointless.

as for lights - how often do you change your bulbs and what kind do you use.

coral - some corals are just slow growers - maybe post some pics and some of the seasoned reefers here can comment on how those corals are doing in their tanks. Some of the reefers here with amazing sps and other coral growth have commented that they have a coral or too that just grow super slow no matter what they do. Maybe get a couple frags of some stuff known to grow like weeds, throw it in your tank and see if those take off. If so you then theres nothing wrong except for your coral selection

though from the sounds of it you seem to have the ideal coral environment. Maybe recheck your p04, n03, n04 with a different kit to make sure your parameters are correct.

[Coleus]

my tank is over 2 years old. I feed my coral at night and i have a night mode flow. I also set it so that my return pump is off during feeding.

I will do some more testing. Thanks for all input

[Aquattro]

FWIW, my 90 was over 2 yrs, everything tested as perfect for coral growth, but nothing grew much at all. Like I said, in the new 3 week old tank, I have more growth than I ever did in the 90. Young tank, no feeding, same paramters, same salt, etc, just a different tank and sump. Now everything is taking off. I'm starting to think trace copper, not enough to kill, but enough to inhibit growth.